Hi Everyone:
Yes it is that time of the year again, I mean that it is winter. With winter, (depending on where you live) comes snow. Inevitably with snow comes accidents. Where I live, so far we have only had one snow fall amounting to a whopping 4 inches. That doesn't include today, due to the fact that we are having a snow storm with 12 to 18 inches expected.
During the first snow fall, I passed 2 accidents. Being a normal driver, I had to slow down to check out the accidents. Both accidents involved only a single vehicle. Not to my surprise, both vehicles were large AWD SUV's. Unless there was some kind of mechanical failure that I wasn't aware of, the apparent cause for both accidents was speed. I think that before someone buys a SUV or any AWD vehicle, it should be mandatory that they go through a common sense speech from the seller/dealer. The speech should center around how any AWD vehicle can not stop any faster or easier then any other vehicle on the road. Yes AWD vehicles can accelerate from a stopped position faster then any other vehicle in snow and have better traction going forward, they still can not stop any faster.
Having been an owner of 2 AWD vehicles, I learned early on about the lack of stopping power. Somehow, a lot of SUV owners have not learned that lesson. Common sense should dictate that in bad weather, snow and rain included, your stopping ability is severely hampered and you have to slow down.
Case closed.
Til next week.
Peter
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Sunday, December 19, 2010
A Duh Moment
Hi Everyone:
I consider myself computer literate, but by no means a computer wiz. A few weeks ago, my wife and I got a new Dell computer. As I was unpacking the machine, I found a card, about the same size as a CD/DVD. It said Do Not Discard twice on the front. So I took time to read it. It was from Microsoft and the card turned out to be the activation key for my Microsoft Office 2010. The card stated to visit microsoft's web site, so I did.
I don't know how much time I spent trying to download office 2010. No matter what I did, the download didn't work. Clicking on Help wasn't any help either since I still couldn't download office. Becoming very frustrated, I called Dell for help. Yes I spoke to someone in India, (I always ask what country I called), but I could not only hear them very clearly, but I could understand every word he said. That is a miracle in and of itself. Anyway the tech told me to click on the paper and pen icon at the top of my screen. Voila, Microsoft Office 2010 starts to download. That was a real Duhhhhh moment for me. The card I had was indeed the activation key for office which I had to enter. I thanked the tech and I told him that I felt so stupid. He told me that it happens all the time now with Windows 7 and also because you no longer actually receive a disc from Microsoft. You just get a Product Identifier card with the activation key code, all 25 or 27 digits.
A few days after receipt of the computer, I got a call from Dell asking me about my new computer. I told him that all was fine except for the problem with office 2010. I told him that the card stated to visit the web site. I then added that the card should have one more sentence included, telling you to click on the pen and paper icon to start the download. He appreciated my comment and thought it was a good idea and would pass it up.
To me, my common sense says that Microsoft should have included that one sentence and then my experience would have been without a flaw. Oh well, live and learn.
Til next week.
Peter
I consider myself computer literate, but by no means a computer wiz. A few weeks ago, my wife and I got a new Dell computer. As I was unpacking the machine, I found a card, about the same size as a CD/DVD. It said Do Not Discard twice on the front. So I took time to read it. It was from Microsoft and the card turned out to be the activation key for my Microsoft Office 2010. The card stated to visit microsoft's web site, so I did.
I don't know how much time I spent trying to download office 2010. No matter what I did, the download didn't work. Clicking on Help wasn't any help either since I still couldn't download office. Becoming very frustrated, I called Dell for help. Yes I spoke to someone in India, (I always ask what country I called), but I could not only hear them very clearly, but I could understand every word he said. That is a miracle in and of itself. Anyway the tech told me to click on the paper and pen icon at the top of my screen. Voila, Microsoft Office 2010 starts to download. That was a real Duhhhhh moment for me. The card I had was indeed the activation key for office which I had to enter. I thanked the tech and I told him that I felt so stupid. He told me that it happens all the time now with Windows 7 and also because you no longer actually receive a disc from Microsoft. You just get a Product Identifier card with the activation key code, all 25 or 27 digits.
A few days after receipt of the computer, I got a call from Dell asking me about my new computer. I told him that all was fine except for the problem with office 2010. I told him that the card stated to visit the web site. I then added that the card should have one more sentence included, telling you to click on the pen and paper icon to start the download. He appreciated my comment and thought it was a good idea and would pass it up.
To me, my common sense says that Microsoft should have included that one sentence and then my experience would have been without a flaw. Oh well, live and learn.
Til next week.
Peter
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Crime Does Pay
Hi Everyone:
Who ever says that crime doesn't pay obviously doesn't live in New York State. New York State is more screwed up then I even imagined. I have said numerous times that a whole lot of politicians, from both sides of the aisle, simply don't have any common sense what-so-ever. Well, hold on to your seats and get ready for an unbelievable story with an even more unbelievable ending.
Vincent Leibell, a lawyer and a Republican, was in the New York state Assembly for 13 years and then was a state Senator for 15 years. Leibell won this past November 2nd election for Putnam County Executive. That is the top political job in the county. He is well liked or should I say used to be.
On December 2nd, he abruptly resigned from his state Senator's seat which shocked a lot of people. On December 6th he pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and tax evasion in U.S. District Court in White Plains, New York. He faces up to 24 months in jail. Prosecutors say he extorted money from an attorney who did work for the Putnam Community Foundation, (which Leibell founded) and then urged that lawyer to lie about it to the grand jury during a conversation recorded by investigators. He also took consultant fees from a partner in a Westchester firm doing work for the county and did not pay taxes on that income.
At first glance, this just seems to be another crooked politician's tale. But, Leibell took this to another level. He knew that he was under investigation in April of this year. He knew that what he had done was illegal, but he still ran for County Executive and won. He won because no one knew about the extent of his problems. Why would he do that? The obvious answer is that he has absolutely no common sense! This goes to show that career politicians truly believe that they are above the law and can do whatever they want. The only positive thing I can say about this is that at least Leibell pleaded guilty and didn't force a trial by pleading innocent. Yea for that I guess.
But the conclusion to this sorry tale is that Leibell, even though he pleaded guilty to illegal activities that dealt directly to his elected position, will receive a pension of $71,000 per year. If he lives another 20 years, he will then have received...................$1.4 million. To top that off, the receipt of his pension is all legal. NYS elected officials have never approved making it illegal to use your office for illegal activities. Shame on New York! But then again, why would politicians vote for a bill that would take away their pensions? Common sense dictates that if you plead guilty or are found guilty by trial for using your elected office for illegal activities you should forfeit your entire pension, case closed!!!
Til next week.
Peter
Who ever says that crime doesn't pay obviously doesn't live in New York State. New York State is more screwed up then I even imagined. I have said numerous times that a whole lot of politicians, from both sides of the aisle, simply don't have any common sense what-so-ever. Well, hold on to your seats and get ready for an unbelievable story with an even more unbelievable ending.
Vincent Leibell, a lawyer and a Republican, was in the New York state Assembly for 13 years and then was a state Senator for 15 years. Leibell won this past November 2nd election for Putnam County Executive. That is the top political job in the county. He is well liked or should I say used to be.
On December 2nd, he abruptly resigned from his state Senator's seat which shocked a lot of people. On December 6th he pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and tax evasion in U.S. District Court in White Plains, New York. He faces up to 24 months in jail. Prosecutors say he extorted money from an attorney who did work for the Putnam Community Foundation, (which Leibell founded) and then urged that lawyer to lie about it to the grand jury during a conversation recorded by investigators. He also took consultant fees from a partner in a Westchester firm doing work for the county and did not pay taxes on that income.
At first glance, this just seems to be another crooked politician's tale. But, Leibell took this to another level. He knew that he was under investigation in April of this year. He knew that what he had done was illegal, but he still ran for County Executive and won. He won because no one knew about the extent of his problems. Why would he do that? The obvious answer is that he has absolutely no common sense! This goes to show that career politicians truly believe that they are above the law and can do whatever they want. The only positive thing I can say about this is that at least Leibell pleaded guilty and didn't force a trial by pleading innocent. Yea for that I guess.
But the conclusion to this sorry tale is that Leibell, even though he pleaded guilty to illegal activities that dealt directly to his elected position, will receive a pension of $71,000 per year. If he lives another 20 years, he will then have received...................$1.4 million. To top that off, the receipt of his pension is all legal. NYS elected officials have never approved making it illegal to use your office for illegal activities. Shame on New York! But then again, why would politicians vote for a bill that would take away their pensions? Common sense dictates that if you plead guilty or are found guilty by trial for using your elected office for illegal activities you should forfeit your entire pension, case closed!!!
Til next week.
Peter
Sunday, December 5, 2010
To Be Or Not To Be
Hi Everyone:
I'm pretty sure everyone has heard about the controversy about the new screening procedures implemented by the TSA recently. The new screening procedures before being allowed to board a flight include a body scan (think X-ray) or if one doesn't want that they would have to have a full body pat down. So why all the fuss? It seems that there are people who don't want either of them implemented. Some people believe that having either done tramples on their right to privacy.
In today's world, there are people in this world who would like nothing more then to either blow up a plane in flight or use it as a missile to kill as many Americans as possible. In order to make flying as save as possible the TSA implemented these new procedures. Remember last Christmas' underwear bomber? The only reason no one was killed was due to the fact that the bomb in his underwear failed to detonate. If the bomb had detonated, it would have most likely caused the plane to blow up in mid air and/or crash. Either way people would have been killed.
With the old procedures sans body scans or pat downs any other underwear bomber could have tried again and maybe even succeeded. It seems to me that the new procedures are a necessary evil to try to make flying safe for all. If insuring a flight's safety includes either a body scan or a pat down I say just do it. To me, that just makes common sense. If one doesn't like it don't fly! Take a train or a car or a bus. I'm also fairly certain that if the procedures were not implemented and people were killed due to a preventable bomber; these same people against the new procedures would be the first ones, after the victim's families, to complain about the lack of security. You can not have it both ways.
Comprehensive security does work. Just look at Israel and what the flying public there must go through to board a plane.
In this case, the ends do justify the means. And the old saying, it is better to be safe then sorry, says it all.
Til next week.
Peter
I'm pretty sure everyone has heard about the controversy about the new screening procedures implemented by the TSA recently. The new screening procedures before being allowed to board a flight include a body scan (think X-ray) or if one doesn't want that they would have to have a full body pat down. So why all the fuss? It seems that there are people who don't want either of them implemented. Some people believe that having either done tramples on their right to privacy.
In today's world, there are people in this world who would like nothing more then to either blow up a plane in flight or use it as a missile to kill as many Americans as possible. In order to make flying as save as possible the TSA implemented these new procedures. Remember last Christmas' underwear bomber? The only reason no one was killed was due to the fact that the bomb in his underwear failed to detonate. If the bomb had detonated, it would have most likely caused the plane to blow up in mid air and/or crash. Either way people would have been killed.
With the old procedures sans body scans or pat downs any other underwear bomber could have tried again and maybe even succeeded. It seems to me that the new procedures are a necessary evil to try to make flying safe for all. If insuring a flight's safety includes either a body scan or a pat down I say just do it. To me, that just makes common sense. If one doesn't like it don't fly! Take a train or a car or a bus. I'm also fairly certain that if the procedures were not implemented and people were killed due to a preventable bomber; these same people against the new procedures would be the first ones, after the victim's families, to complain about the lack of security. You can not have it both ways.
Comprehensive security does work. Just look at Israel and what the flying public there must go through to board a plane.
In this case, the ends do justify the means. And the old saying, it is better to be safe then sorry, says it all.
Til next week.
Peter
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Is Taxing Upper Income People A Good Idea?
Hi Everyone:
There is a lot of talk about what to do with the Bush Tax Cuts. The Democrats want to end the tax cuts for people earning over $250,000. The Republicans want to keep all of the tax cuts in place. Who is right and who is wrong? Or is there a right or wrong in this debate? Lets look at the facts as per the Gannet news:
The final 2 years of the George H. W. Bush presidency brought a creeping recession, with an unemployment rate that increased from 5.6% in 1990 to 7.5% in 1992. By June 1992, just 5 months before the elections, the rate reached 7.8%.
Newly elected President Clinton proposed raising the highest marginal tax rate from 31% to 39.6%. President Reagan's chief economic advisor, Martin Feldstein, said that "raising the tax rate of high-income people would hurt incentives, weaken the economy and waste investment dollars."
As you may or may not remember, there was a fierce debate with a lot of mud slinging and fear mongering. Republicans truly believed that Reagan's trickle down theory, tax cuts for the rich would benefit the middle and lower classes. They claimed that raising taxes during a recession was wrong. Even though Reagan's tax cuts among other things created a huge deficit, they still believed their way was correct.
When the debate ended and the votes were counted, the house voted for the tax increases by a vote of 218 to 216. The senate vote was tied and broken by Vice President Gore. So what were the consequences? In the following 7 years the unemployment rate decreased every year until it reached 4% in 2000. Did the tax increase alone cause the drop in the unemployment rate? Probably not. But the increase went a long way towards closing the budget deficit that Clinton inherited from Reagan and Bush and it also raised the incomes of poor families through the Earned Tax Credit. Both of these factors provided major economic boosts. Also don't forget that by the end of Clinton's presidency, the huge deficit that he inherited was gone and a huge surplus was given to Bush #2.
President George Bush #2, not believing in history repeating itself, slashed tax cuts for all individuals. Then the economy fell off a cliff. The tax revenue lost from the tax decreases helped in part to send this country into the worst recession since the Great Depression.
So what is the correct answer regarding keeping the tax rate for the rich as is, or increase their tax rates? Well, using common sense, it appears to me that raising the tax rates for the rich is good economic policy. It worked in the 1990's, so why wouldn't it work now? How can one argue that the trickle down theory of economics works? History has proven twice that it didn't work. It didn't work for Reagan and it didn't work for Bush #2. If history has shown which way works, why would we want to try a failed policy for a third time? That makes absolutely no sense to me.
Additionally, please don't forget that keeping the tax cuts for the rich will increase the deficit by almost one trillion dollars. If the GOP was really serious about reducing the deficit, which they say they are, the first thing that they should do is to eliminate the tax cuts for the rich and increase their tax rates. You can't argue with history. It is there for us to learn from and not to ignore.
Common sense rules and poor policies drool.
Til next week.
There is a lot of talk about what to do with the Bush Tax Cuts. The Democrats want to end the tax cuts for people earning over $250,000. The Republicans want to keep all of the tax cuts in place. Who is right and who is wrong? Or is there a right or wrong in this debate? Lets look at the facts as per the Gannet news:
The final 2 years of the George H. W. Bush presidency brought a creeping recession, with an unemployment rate that increased from 5.6% in 1990 to 7.5% in 1992. By June 1992, just 5 months before the elections, the rate reached 7.8%.
Newly elected President Clinton proposed raising the highest marginal tax rate from 31% to 39.6%. President Reagan's chief economic advisor, Martin Feldstein, said that "raising the tax rate of high-income people would hurt incentives, weaken the economy and waste investment dollars."
As you may or may not remember, there was a fierce debate with a lot of mud slinging and fear mongering. Republicans truly believed that Reagan's trickle down theory, tax cuts for the rich would benefit the middle and lower classes. They claimed that raising taxes during a recession was wrong. Even though Reagan's tax cuts among other things created a huge deficit, they still believed their way was correct.
When the debate ended and the votes were counted, the house voted for the tax increases by a vote of 218 to 216. The senate vote was tied and broken by Vice President Gore. So what were the consequences? In the following 7 years the unemployment rate decreased every year until it reached 4% in 2000. Did the tax increase alone cause the drop in the unemployment rate? Probably not. But the increase went a long way towards closing the budget deficit that Clinton inherited from Reagan and Bush and it also raised the incomes of poor families through the Earned Tax Credit. Both of these factors provided major economic boosts. Also don't forget that by the end of Clinton's presidency, the huge deficit that he inherited was gone and a huge surplus was given to Bush #2.
President George Bush #2, not believing in history repeating itself, slashed tax cuts for all individuals. Then the economy fell off a cliff. The tax revenue lost from the tax decreases helped in part to send this country into the worst recession since the Great Depression.
So what is the correct answer regarding keeping the tax rate for the rich as is, or increase their tax rates? Well, using common sense, it appears to me that raising the tax rates for the rich is good economic policy. It worked in the 1990's, so why wouldn't it work now? How can one argue that the trickle down theory of economics works? History has proven twice that it didn't work. It didn't work for Reagan and it didn't work for Bush #2. If history has shown which way works, why would we want to try a failed policy for a third time? That makes absolutely no sense to me.
Additionally, please don't forget that keeping the tax cuts for the rich will increase the deficit by almost one trillion dollars. If the GOP was really serious about reducing the deficit, which they say they are, the first thing that they should do is to eliminate the tax cuts for the rich and increase their tax rates. You can't argue with history. It is there for us to learn from and not to ignore.
Common sense rules and poor policies drool.
Til next week.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Reason # ??? Why School Taxes Are High
Hi Everyone:
Just when you thought you had heard it all regarding high school taxes; Buffalo, New York may well take the cake and win the award for the dumbest ever. Common sense must have been dead and buried in Buffalo because you could never guess, not in a million years, what their teacher contract covers. The Buffalo school union really snowed the taxpayers with an unbelievable pert covered by their contract.
So what is this pert? Before I tell you, keep this in mind; Buffalo taxpayers shelled out $9 million just for last year, to cover this pert for 500 teachers and their dependents who used the pert. And the pert is, drum roll please.............................................................................................. cosmetic surgery?! Now mind you that this is not cosmetic surgery due to an accident or mastectomy etc., which are usually covered under a medical benefits plan, but for elective cosmetic surgery. This is wrong on every conceivable level. Shame on the union for asking for such an outrageous pert like elective cosmetic surgery. Equal shame also has to be placed on Buffalo's school administration for accepting this pert as part of the contract. What were they thinking? Oh yea, they weren't!
Sometimes I feel like the world in which we live is upside down and I am living in a Bizzaro world, (see Seinfeld the TV show). Why would it be necessary to have cosmetic surgery included in any contract what so ever? Are Buffalo teachers and their dependents born so ugly and deformed that only elective surgery can correct their plight? Do Buffalo teachers and their dependents enter lots of beauty contests? Does Buffalo win an award for having the most beautiful teachers? Obviously the answers to all of these is a resounding NO! So the only reason this pert became part of the contract is due to a complete and utter lack of common sense on any one's part. Shame on them all!
This is a prime example of how union contracts have gotten so out of control and so far beyond their scope of coverage since their inception to protect employees rights and pay. Their aren't enough adjectives that the Buffalo taxpayers should be shouting at the top of their lungs to rescind this pert and any others like it. As part of trying to get this country back on its feet, I firmly believe that all union contracts must be reviewed with a fine tooth comb and remove outrageous and costly perts such as cosmetic surgery. If the unions don't like it, TS!!!!!!! They should have never received such a pert in the first place. Shame on everyone!!!
Common sense rules and greed drools.
Til next week.
Peter
Just when you thought you had heard it all regarding high school taxes; Buffalo, New York may well take the cake and win the award for the dumbest ever. Common sense must have been dead and buried in Buffalo because you could never guess, not in a million years, what their teacher contract covers. The Buffalo school union really snowed the taxpayers with an unbelievable pert covered by their contract.
So what is this pert? Before I tell you, keep this in mind; Buffalo taxpayers shelled out $9 million just for last year, to cover this pert for 500 teachers and their dependents who used the pert. And the pert is, drum roll please.............................................................................................. cosmetic surgery?! Now mind you that this is not cosmetic surgery due to an accident or mastectomy etc., which are usually covered under a medical benefits plan, but for elective cosmetic surgery. This is wrong on every conceivable level. Shame on the union for asking for such an outrageous pert like elective cosmetic surgery. Equal shame also has to be placed on Buffalo's school administration for accepting this pert as part of the contract. What were they thinking? Oh yea, they weren't!
Sometimes I feel like the world in which we live is upside down and I am living in a Bizzaro world, (see Seinfeld the TV show). Why would it be necessary to have cosmetic surgery included in any contract what so ever? Are Buffalo teachers and their dependents born so ugly and deformed that only elective surgery can correct their plight? Do Buffalo teachers and their dependents enter lots of beauty contests? Does Buffalo win an award for having the most beautiful teachers? Obviously the answers to all of these is a resounding NO! So the only reason this pert became part of the contract is due to a complete and utter lack of common sense on any one's part. Shame on them all!
This is a prime example of how union contracts have gotten so out of control and so far beyond their scope of coverage since their inception to protect employees rights and pay. Their aren't enough adjectives that the Buffalo taxpayers should be shouting at the top of their lungs to rescind this pert and any others like it. As part of trying to get this country back on its feet, I firmly believe that all union contracts must be reviewed with a fine tooth comb and remove outrageous and costly perts such as cosmetic surgery. If the unions don't like it, TS!!!!!!! They should have never received such a pert in the first place. Shame on everyone!!!
Common sense rules and greed drools.
Til next week.
Peter
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Florida
Hi Everyone:
I'm back from vacation. Although we all had a great time, vacations always seem to end much to soon. While on vacation though, I unintentionally discovered something that really mystified me. But I am getting ahead of myself. First the back story is that 4 of us went to Florida for some much needed R&R. While there, our friends wanted to check out some retirement homes, condos and townhouses. I believe that we visited about 12. All of the homes etc. were built between 1997 to 2006. So they should have been built with efficiency in mind. Not so fast with that kind of thinking.
Every single house, condo and townhouse had single paned windows, this included the windows in doors and the sliding glass doors. When we visited stores and restaurants etc., they also had single paned windows and doors. Even the resort that we stayed at used single paned windows and sliders. On mildly chilly mornings, we could see condensation on the windows.
Now it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that having double paned windows in a warm climate can also save a lot of money by lowering one's air conditioning needs which in turn lowers the electricity bills. I really couldn't believe that all these recently built homes etc. were built with not enough attention paid to energy savings. What an absolute shame.
Obviously, common sense was not used in the designing and constructing of all these structures. Money was most likely the determining factor in choosing single paned over double paned windows. Just think about all the energy wasted. It is mind boggling. Again, what a shame!
Common sense rules and inefficient buildings don't.
Til next week.
I'm back from vacation. Although we all had a great time, vacations always seem to end much to soon. While on vacation though, I unintentionally discovered something that really mystified me. But I am getting ahead of myself. First the back story is that 4 of us went to Florida for some much needed R&R. While there, our friends wanted to check out some retirement homes, condos and townhouses. I believe that we visited about 12. All of the homes etc. were built between 1997 to 2006. So they should have been built with efficiency in mind. Not so fast with that kind of thinking.
Every single house, condo and townhouse had single paned windows, this included the windows in doors and the sliding glass doors. When we visited stores and restaurants etc., they also had single paned windows and doors. Even the resort that we stayed at used single paned windows and sliders. On mildly chilly mornings, we could see condensation on the windows.
Now it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that having double paned windows in a warm climate can also save a lot of money by lowering one's air conditioning needs which in turn lowers the electricity bills. I really couldn't believe that all these recently built homes etc. were built with not enough attention paid to energy savings. What an absolute shame.
Obviously, common sense was not used in the designing and constructing of all these structures. Money was most likely the determining factor in choosing single paned over double paned windows. Just think about all the energy wasted. It is mind boggling. Again, what a shame!
Common sense rules and inefficient buildings don't.
Til next week.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Election Day 11/2
Hi Everyone:
Today's blog is different from any of my other blogs. With a little more then 2 weeks until election day, I would like to make a request to each of you.
Before you go to the polls on 11/2, I would like each and every one of you to do your homework on each candidate from every party. Please use your common sense to pick the best person you believe will do the best job. I have kept to my promise in my very first blog that my blog will be apolitical and I will still adhere to that promise. But please don't be afraid to cross party lines if you believe that someone from another party is the best qualified candidate. You must also try to filter out the lies, smears and fear mongering etc., in order to know the truth. The truth counts more than any thing else because everything else just blurs your vision in order to "see" the truth.
I will be back in 2 weeks. Til then.
Today's blog is different from any of my other blogs. With a little more then 2 weeks until election day, I would like to make a request to each of you.
Before you go to the polls on 11/2, I would like each and every one of you to do your homework on each candidate from every party. Please use your common sense to pick the best person you believe will do the best job. I have kept to my promise in my very first blog that my blog will be apolitical and I will still adhere to that promise. But please don't be afraid to cross party lines if you believe that someone from another party is the best qualified candidate. You must also try to filter out the lies, smears and fear mongering etc., in order to know the truth. The truth counts more than any thing else because everything else just blurs your vision in order to "see" the truth.
I will be back in 2 weeks. Til then.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Past Its Prime?
Hi Everyone:
Today's topic is definitely a "hot button" issue. A long, long time ago, during the beginning of the 20th century, business owners did whatever they wanted to their employees to be able to maximize profits. Employers locked their employees in rooms even without proper ventilation and restrooms. That worked until sometime after the 1911 New York City Triangle Shirt Company fire where every single sweatshop employee either jumped to their deaths or were burned alive. Employees were unable to escape because the doors were locked from outside of the room where they worked. There were also no fire escapes. Employers also worked their employees long hours without breaks and paid the employees as little as they could. That is just a few items of a very long laundry list on how employers abused their employees.
Employees began to take notice and became mad as hell and they weren't going to take it anymore. Rightfully so, employees organized themselves and voila, unions were born. Employers had nobody to blame except themselves. Being a member of a union, meant being guaranteed protected workers rights, fair wages, hours worked, overtime and a pension etc. Then later, a benefit package was negotiated and added to the contract that included medical, dental and life insurance etc. Again, since the employees were so mad at the employers that all of the above rights and benefits were and still are be paid solely by the employers.
As the decades rolled on by, the costs of the benefit packages, including retirement plans, were crippling huge companies; think GM etc. It is not just manufacturing companies, now police, fire and teachers benefit plans are killing taxpayers due to the exorbitant costs. In New York State Teacher contracts also give them tenure after only 3 years. After a teacher receives tenure, it is very hard to fire a teacher. I have read articles where teachers are placed in rooms where they sit all day and do not teach, while their case lingers on to a conclusion, sometimes it takes years to resolve the case. Who wants bad teachers in their schools? It shouldn't take so long to terminate a poor performing teacher.
Now another contract that I am well versed in is the union contract that protects hotel employees in New York City. With this contract if an employee is fired for theft, the hotel must cough up a 3 - 4 week severance pay. For an employee who stole? Outrageous!!! But wait; the union receives 1 day for each week of the severance. Why should the union benefit for an employee who stole? Additionally, if an employee is called in to work, on their day off, they are given a 1 1/2 hour travel time that when added to the hours worked on their day off becomes overtime. Who gets paid travel time to get to work?
The point that I am trying to make is that union contracts were once a necessity and not so much now since their is a federal law that covers almost every item in a contract. Employees can sue under NLRB, EEOC, Title VII, Human Rights and for whatever other reason they see fit. If their charges are found to be true, employees win their case and are paid. It is unreasonable to think that unions will just go away. Instead, it seems to me a lot of common sense is urgently and desperately needed to renegotiate all of the above contracts and more. For a start, new contracts have to include having all union employees pay their "fair" share of all benefit programs just like all non-union employees (who have benefit plans available) do right now. This must include medical, dental, life insurance and pension plans etc. Second, perks like severance for stealing and travel time, etc., etc. must be eliminated from contracts.
Common sense must prevail in all future union contract negotiations because taxpayers and companies can no longer afford them.
Til next week.
Today's topic is definitely a "hot button" issue. A long, long time ago, during the beginning of the 20th century, business owners did whatever they wanted to their employees to be able to maximize profits. Employers locked their employees in rooms even without proper ventilation and restrooms. That worked until sometime after the 1911 New York City Triangle Shirt Company fire where every single sweatshop employee either jumped to their deaths or were burned alive. Employees were unable to escape because the doors were locked from outside of the room where they worked. There were also no fire escapes. Employers also worked their employees long hours without breaks and paid the employees as little as they could. That is just a few items of a very long laundry list on how employers abused their employees.
Employees began to take notice and became mad as hell and they weren't going to take it anymore. Rightfully so, employees organized themselves and voila, unions were born. Employers had nobody to blame except themselves. Being a member of a union, meant being guaranteed protected workers rights, fair wages, hours worked, overtime and a pension etc. Then later, a benefit package was negotiated and added to the contract that included medical, dental and life insurance etc. Again, since the employees were so mad at the employers that all of the above rights and benefits were and still are be paid solely by the employers.
As the decades rolled on by, the costs of the benefit packages, including retirement plans, were crippling huge companies; think GM etc. It is not just manufacturing companies, now police, fire and teachers benefit plans are killing taxpayers due to the exorbitant costs. In New York State Teacher contracts also give them tenure after only 3 years. After a teacher receives tenure, it is very hard to fire a teacher. I have read articles where teachers are placed in rooms where they sit all day and do not teach, while their case lingers on to a conclusion, sometimes it takes years to resolve the case. Who wants bad teachers in their schools? It shouldn't take so long to terminate a poor performing teacher.
Now another contract that I am well versed in is the union contract that protects hotel employees in New York City. With this contract if an employee is fired for theft, the hotel must cough up a 3 - 4 week severance pay. For an employee who stole? Outrageous!!! But wait; the union receives 1 day for each week of the severance. Why should the union benefit for an employee who stole? Additionally, if an employee is called in to work, on their day off, they are given a 1 1/2 hour travel time that when added to the hours worked on their day off becomes overtime. Who gets paid travel time to get to work?
The point that I am trying to make is that union contracts were once a necessity and not so much now since their is a federal law that covers almost every item in a contract. Employees can sue under NLRB, EEOC, Title VII, Human Rights and for whatever other reason they see fit. If their charges are found to be true, employees win their case and are paid. It is unreasonable to think that unions will just go away. Instead, it seems to me a lot of common sense is urgently and desperately needed to renegotiate all of the above contracts and more. For a start, new contracts have to include having all union employees pay their "fair" share of all benefit programs just like all non-union employees (who have benefit plans available) do right now. This must include medical, dental, life insurance and pension plans etc. Second, perks like severance for stealing and travel time, etc., etc. must be eliminated from contracts.
Common sense must prevail in all future union contract negotiations because taxpayers and companies can no longer afford them.
Til next week.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
At It Again
Hi Everyone:
Sometimes I wonder if politicians actually think before they speak. If they did, common sense would dictate to them if they should say something or not. Case in point is Carl Paladino yet again.
Carl Paladino is the Republican Gubernatorial candidate here in NY. I wrote about Mr. Paladino on 9/12/10, yet it seems that he will never cease to amaze me by his words. This past week, a reporter from a major NYC newspaper was interviewing him (which was caught on video) and Mr. Paladino got upset with the reporter and then told the reporter that he was going to "take him out." The reporter asked "how he was going to do that"? Paladino responded "watch."
I'm pretty sure that Paladino isn't going to take the reporter out to dinner or out on a date. So taking him out then means to kill him. WTH?!!!!! How can a candidate for Governor say he is going to kill someone? Even with a camera focused on him, Paladino obviously said what he meant. But did he mean what he said? Too late now, he said what he said and the spin doctors can try their best to subdue the damage he did to himself. Maybe, just maybe, if Paladino had an ounce of common sense he would not have said that. Why would a political wannabe shoot himself in the foot while sticking his other foot in his mouth by saying something so outrageous? It would appear that Paladino has a short fuse, is thin skinned, speaks before thinking and most of all, lacks any common sense what-so-ever. If this doesn't end his political aspirations, I don't know what will.
Enough said!
Til next week.
Sometimes I wonder if politicians actually think before they speak. If they did, common sense would dictate to them if they should say something or not. Case in point is Carl Paladino yet again.
Carl Paladino is the Republican Gubernatorial candidate here in NY. I wrote about Mr. Paladino on 9/12/10, yet it seems that he will never cease to amaze me by his words. This past week, a reporter from a major NYC newspaper was interviewing him (which was caught on video) and Mr. Paladino got upset with the reporter and then told the reporter that he was going to "take him out." The reporter asked "how he was going to do that"? Paladino responded "watch."
I'm pretty sure that Paladino isn't going to take the reporter out to dinner or out on a date. So taking him out then means to kill him. WTH?!!!!! How can a candidate for Governor say he is going to kill someone? Even with a camera focused on him, Paladino obviously said what he meant. But did he mean what he said? Too late now, he said what he said and the spin doctors can try their best to subdue the damage he did to himself. Maybe, just maybe, if Paladino had an ounce of common sense he would not have said that. Why would a political wannabe shoot himself in the foot while sticking his other foot in his mouth by saying something so outrageous? It would appear that Paladino has a short fuse, is thin skinned, speaks before thinking and most of all, lacks any common sense what-so-ever. If this doesn't end his political aspirations, I don't know what will.
Enough said!
Til next week.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
God's Fault or Mother Nature's Fault
Hi Everyone:
Torrential rains this past July and August in Pakistan has devastated the country with flooding and has left thousands of people dead. Unfortunately, the worst is yet to come. After the flood waters recede, there will be tens of thousands, maybe even hundreds of thousands left homeless. More importantly there will not be enough food or clean water to drink. Drinking tainted water will lead to diarrhea and dysentery, which left untreated will almost certainly lead to death. Consequently, the death toll will continue to rise weeks and even months after the water has receded.
The US government has pledged millions of dollars to aid the people of Pakistan. Unfortunately, the Pakistani government has been very slow to help its own. I believe that the government is inundated to the point where their slow response time was a predictable consequence of not being prepared due to not having a "battle plan" in case of such an emergency.
The weather-related cataclysms that so affected Pakistan fit patterns predicted by climate scientists at the Geneva based World Meteorological Organization. The rains were obviously due to Mother Nature. Whether or not global warming is to blame remains uncertain. But, could there be any other reason for the rains that so devastated Pakistan? If yes, what could it possibly be?
Both the Pakistan based Taliban and Al-Qaeda have been repeatedly saying very loudly that the torrential rains are God's punishment to Pakistan for being a friend to the United States and for the Pakistani government's fight against its own people. Meaning that the government should stop fighting the Taliban and Al-Qaeda. Excuse me for saying this but what the hell! It is also very obvious that both the Taliban and/or Al-Qaeda want to take over and rule Pakistan. Consequently, militant Islamist extremists will say and do anything to sway people to their side even when there is no truth in what they say. Unfortunately, their statements don't surprise me in the least. Additionally, their lack of common sense also doesn't surprise me. What does surprise me is that there is an alarming rate of Pakistan people believing this utter gibberish. If more people support the extremists they just might have the ability to take over the government. If they were able to take over the government, the extremists would be in possession of nuclear bombs and then all bets are off.
The Pakistani government must do its own grandstanding asap and tell its people that it is Mother Nature's fault and in no way is its God's punishment. Common sense dictates that the Pakistani government has to inform all of its people quickly and use all available resources, (including all forms of media etc.) to stem the tide before it is to late. Islamist extremists in possession of nuclear bombs is a nightmare that the region and the world can't live with. The Pakistan government must also help their own people faster and better. Asking for more outside help wouldn't hurt either.
Til next week.
Torrential rains this past July and August in Pakistan has devastated the country with flooding and has left thousands of people dead. Unfortunately, the worst is yet to come. After the flood waters recede, there will be tens of thousands, maybe even hundreds of thousands left homeless. More importantly there will not be enough food or clean water to drink. Drinking tainted water will lead to diarrhea and dysentery, which left untreated will almost certainly lead to death. Consequently, the death toll will continue to rise weeks and even months after the water has receded.
The US government has pledged millions of dollars to aid the people of Pakistan. Unfortunately, the Pakistani government has been very slow to help its own. I believe that the government is inundated to the point where their slow response time was a predictable consequence of not being prepared due to not having a "battle plan" in case of such an emergency.
The weather-related cataclysms that so affected Pakistan fit patterns predicted by climate scientists at the Geneva based World Meteorological Organization. The rains were obviously due to Mother Nature. Whether or not global warming is to blame remains uncertain. But, could there be any other reason for the rains that so devastated Pakistan? If yes, what could it possibly be?
Both the Pakistan based Taliban and Al-Qaeda have been repeatedly saying very loudly that the torrential rains are God's punishment to Pakistan for being a friend to the United States and for the Pakistani government's fight against its own people. Meaning that the government should stop fighting the Taliban and Al-Qaeda. Excuse me for saying this but what the hell! It is also very obvious that both the Taliban and/or Al-Qaeda want to take over and rule Pakistan. Consequently, militant Islamist extremists will say and do anything to sway people to their side even when there is no truth in what they say. Unfortunately, their statements don't surprise me in the least. Additionally, their lack of common sense also doesn't surprise me. What does surprise me is that there is an alarming rate of Pakistan people believing this utter gibberish. If more people support the extremists they just might have the ability to take over the government. If they were able to take over the government, the extremists would be in possession of nuclear bombs and then all bets are off.
The Pakistani government must do its own grandstanding asap and tell its people that it is Mother Nature's fault and in no way is its God's punishment. Common sense dictates that the Pakistani government has to inform all of its people quickly and use all available resources, (including all forms of media etc.) to stem the tide before it is to late. Islamist extremists in possession of nuclear bombs is a nightmare that the region and the world can't live with. The Pakistan government must also help their own people faster and better. Asking for more outside help wouldn't hurt either.
Til next week.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Unbelieveable Statement
Hi Everyone:
I really didn't imagine that I would write about a politician so soon after last week's announcement. But the political season is in motion and politicians never seem to amaze me in what they will say to get themselves elected, or at least try to.
Case in point is a New York state republican gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino. Paladino is a plain spoken Buffalo businessman and millionaire who has never run for public office. So you would think that a person who is smart enough to start up and run a successful business would know that what you say speaks volume of who you are. Not so with Paladino.
Regarding the mosque (that I wrote about 2 weeks ago) near ground zero, Paladino said he would use the power of eminent domain to stop the mosque. WHAT? In essence what Paladino said is that he would abuse the Fifth Amendment by, get this............................ by trampling on the First Amendment. Who is this moron? Does he really think that he would or even could get away with doing that if he was elected? Hopefully not, but he said that to appease some people to sway them to vote for him. It is obvious that Paladino's comment has no common sense and will/should hurt him come primary day this Tuesday. It is also apparent that he just doesn't get it. Hopefully after losing the primary, he will get it. If a politician or politician wannabe thinks that he/she can abuse our constitution, which is what our country was founded on and to this day is based on, they have another thing coming.
Enough said!!!!!!!!!
Til next week.
I really didn't imagine that I would write about a politician so soon after last week's announcement. But the political season is in motion and politicians never seem to amaze me in what they will say to get themselves elected, or at least try to.
Case in point is a New York state republican gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino. Paladino is a plain spoken Buffalo businessman and millionaire who has never run for public office. So you would think that a person who is smart enough to start up and run a successful business would know that what you say speaks volume of who you are. Not so with Paladino.
Regarding the mosque (that I wrote about 2 weeks ago) near ground zero, Paladino said he would use the power of eminent domain to stop the mosque. WHAT? In essence what Paladino said is that he would abuse the Fifth Amendment by, get this............................ by trampling on the First Amendment. Who is this moron? Does he really think that he would or even could get away with doing that if he was elected? Hopefully not, but he said that to appease some people to sway them to vote for him. It is obvious that Paladino's comment has no common sense and will/should hurt him come primary day this Tuesday. It is also apparent that he just doesn't get it. Hopefully after losing the primary, he will get it. If a politician or politician wannabe thinks that he/she can abuse our constitution, which is what our country was founded on and to this day is based on, they have another thing coming.
Enough said!!!!!!!!!
Til next week.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Tis The Season, Again
Hi Everyone:
This weeks blog is totally different from any other. Today's blog will inform you of what is going to happen with my blog in the near future.
Since election season is upon all of us again (does it really ever end?), I have decided to closely watch some of the tri-state politians. I will be looking for signs of a lack of common sense that politicians notoriously and seemingly, easily do. Some examples are: out right lies (which includes stretching the truth), mindless smears, misinformation and fear mongering etc., etc.
Before I blog about something, I will research the facts of the story etc. This will definitely be a "no spin zone". I will be an equal opportunity abuser reporting on anyone from any party who, I believed showed a lack of common sense.
Let the games begin!!!
Til next week
This weeks blog is totally different from any other. Today's blog will inform you of what is going to happen with my blog in the near future.
Since election season is upon all of us again (does it really ever end?), I have decided to closely watch some of the tri-state politians. I will be looking for signs of a lack of common sense that politicians notoriously and seemingly, easily do. Some examples are: out right lies (which includes stretching the truth), mindless smears, misinformation and fear mongering etc., etc.
Before I blog about something, I will research the facts of the story etc. This will definitely be a "no spin zone". I will be an equal opportunity abuser reporting on anyone from any party who, I believed showed a lack of common sense.
Let the games begin!!!
Til next week
Monday, August 30, 2010
My Common Sense Solution
Hi Everyone:
Since I am not a DJ, I don't usually take topic requests. But a reader challenged me to figure out a common sense solution to the situation where a mosque might be built close to ground zero. I accept the challenge and here is how I figured out what to do.
In order for me to figure out a common sense solution I must, as always, look at the facts which are as follows:
1) The First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States guarantees the freedom of religion including practicing and praying where you want.
2) The building in question is the old Burlington Coat Factory building at 45-51 Park Place. The landing gear of one of the planes that hit one of the World Center buildings damaged the top of the building.
3) According to my research, a mosque has a dome roof and a minaret.
4) According to developer Sharif El-Gamal, the owner of the building, he said on record that it is not a mosque but an Islamic cultural (community) center that also has a prayer chapel. I read a description that it would be like an Islamic 92nd street Y.
5) The center would be called Park 51.
6) Depending on how you measure, Ground Zero is 2 to 5 blocks away.
7) The person that would be in charge of the center is Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf. He has been a trusted ally of the Clinton and G.W. Bush administrations as an Islamic religious leader on behalf of moderate Islam. The Obama administration just sent him overseas for another sanctioned fence mending trip.
8) The Imam stood in the rubble of the World Trade Centers and repudiated the cruel violence unleashed on innocent civilians.
9) The Imam stands for (amongst other things), fence mending and healing, his own words.
10) There are many people who approve of the Cultural Center being built there.
11) There are many people who oppose the Cultural Center being built at that specific location.
12) If the Cultural Center is built at the current location, more probably than not, there will be violence by a few American extremists who are totally against the Center.
So there are the facts that I know about the situation. Now I'm not saying that I have all of the facts, but I believe that I have enough facts to render my common sense solution. First of all, the owner of the building, if all approvals are met, has the right to build there. Secondly, if the center is built, I believe that there will be no peace and violence may occur. Some 9/11 victim's family's may find it totally insensitive. Thirdly, if the Imam is truly serious about his wanting to heal the rift between Islamic and the non-Islamic world, building his center there at that specific sight, would not help the healing process, but would keep the wound, left by 9/11, festering and not in a healing state.
Consequently, even though they may have the legal right to build the center there, my common sense solution based on all of the above would be to not build the cultural center at the Burlington Coat Factory building; but else where in the city. There are lots of of locations that are available and would not be cause for any more needless pain or insensitivity. The Imam then could say that he is indeed a man of healing.
Til next week.
Since I am not a DJ, I don't usually take topic requests. But a reader challenged me to figure out a common sense solution to the situation where a mosque might be built close to ground zero. I accept the challenge and here is how I figured out what to do.
In order for me to figure out a common sense solution I must, as always, look at the facts which are as follows:
1) The First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States guarantees the freedom of religion including practicing and praying where you want.
2) The building in question is the old Burlington Coat Factory building at 45-51 Park Place. The landing gear of one of the planes that hit one of the World Center buildings damaged the top of the building.
3) According to my research, a mosque has a dome roof and a minaret.
4) According to developer Sharif El-Gamal, the owner of the building, he said on record that it is not a mosque but an Islamic cultural (community) center that also has a prayer chapel. I read a description that it would be like an Islamic 92nd street Y.
5) The center would be called Park 51.
6) Depending on how you measure, Ground Zero is 2 to 5 blocks away.
7) The person that would be in charge of the center is Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf. He has been a trusted ally of the Clinton and G.W. Bush administrations as an Islamic religious leader on behalf of moderate Islam. The Obama administration just sent him overseas for another sanctioned fence mending trip.
8) The Imam stood in the rubble of the World Trade Centers and repudiated the cruel violence unleashed on innocent civilians.
9) The Imam stands for (amongst other things), fence mending and healing, his own words.
10) There are many people who approve of the Cultural Center being built there.
11) There are many people who oppose the Cultural Center being built at that specific location.
12) If the Cultural Center is built at the current location, more probably than not, there will be violence by a few American extremists who are totally against the Center.
So there are the facts that I know about the situation. Now I'm not saying that I have all of the facts, but I believe that I have enough facts to render my common sense solution. First of all, the owner of the building, if all approvals are met, has the right to build there. Secondly, if the center is built, I believe that there will be no peace and violence may occur. Some 9/11 victim's family's may find it totally insensitive. Thirdly, if the Imam is truly serious about his wanting to heal the rift between Islamic and the non-Islamic world, building his center there at that specific sight, would not help the healing process, but would keep the wound, left by 9/11, festering and not in a healing state.
Consequently, even though they may have the legal right to build the center there, my common sense solution based on all of the above would be to not build the cultural center at the Burlington Coat Factory building; but else where in the city. There are lots of of locations that are available and would not be cause for any more needless pain or insensitivity. The Imam then could say that he is indeed a man of healing.
Til next week.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
True Recycling
Hi Everyone,
My family and I just returned from a vacation at the Jersey shore. It doesn't sound right to say at the New Jersey shore. But I digress. We hadn't been there for a vacation in about 4-5 years. Although we spent most of our time in a quaint little town called Ocean Grove, which was founded in 1869. Ocean Grove is also the town directly south of Asbury Park.
The last time we saw Asbury Park it was a sorry, sorry sight, with more closed boardwalk stores then open ones. The heyday of Asbury Park seemed like a millennium ago. So we were quite pleasantly surprised to see a greatly improved boardwalk with lots of people and open stores. There was only one building that didn't have active tenants, but construction crews were working on the insides. A lot of money was spent, both by Asbury Park and the store owners, many of which sell some kind of food. But what really amazed me was that there were at least 20 shipping containers that had been converted into attractive stores/shops. Wow, what a concept that exudes the use of great common sense!
The shipping containers are the size of a trailer, the back end of the 18 wheeled tractor trailer. After they are unloaded from a ship, they are then lowered and secured onto a trailer that then gets driven to its delivery destination. But, due to the trade imbalance between the United States and China and other countries, there are more empty containers on this side of the trading route; since this country doesn't use that many to export our products. So the majority of the empty containers get returned to the ports and then sit there forever. Most likely never to be used again. I remember a segment on some news show, that aired many years ago, about the hundreds of thousands of empty shipping containers that were and still are sitting at ports all around our country and what to do with them. Well Asbury Park found a unique way of recycling them. The use of them is a win-win solution. It is obviously much less expensive to buy one of the containers and retrofit them versus building from scratch. And the containers are recycled into a useful product. Asbury Park's use of the containers was in the form of beach ticket sales offices and restrooms. As I said, the shops are attractive especially with colorful paint/designs and seemed to be very efficient. Some of the food shops even use two containers.
My hats off to Asbury Park and their forward thinking about recycling and using great common sense!
Til next week.
My family and I just returned from a vacation at the Jersey shore. It doesn't sound right to say at the New Jersey shore. But I digress. We hadn't been there for a vacation in about 4-5 years. Although we spent most of our time in a quaint little town called Ocean Grove, which was founded in 1869. Ocean Grove is also the town directly south of Asbury Park.
The last time we saw Asbury Park it was a sorry, sorry sight, with more closed boardwalk stores then open ones. The heyday of Asbury Park seemed like a millennium ago. So we were quite pleasantly surprised to see a greatly improved boardwalk with lots of people and open stores. There was only one building that didn't have active tenants, but construction crews were working on the insides. A lot of money was spent, both by Asbury Park and the store owners, many of which sell some kind of food. But what really amazed me was that there were at least 20 shipping containers that had been converted into attractive stores/shops. Wow, what a concept that exudes the use of great common sense!
The shipping containers are the size of a trailer, the back end of the 18 wheeled tractor trailer. After they are unloaded from a ship, they are then lowered and secured onto a trailer that then gets driven to its delivery destination. But, due to the trade imbalance between the United States and China and other countries, there are more empty containers on this side of the trading route; since this country doesn't use that many to export our products. So the majority of the empty containers get returned to the ports and then sit there forever. Most likely never to be used again. I remember a segment on some news show, that aired many years ago, about the hundreds of thousands of empty shipping containers that were and still are sitting at ports all around our country and what to do with them. Well Asbury Park found a unique way of recycling them. The use of them is a win-win solution. It is obviously much less expensive to buy one of the containers and retrofit them versus building from scratch. And the containers are recycled into a useful product. Asbury Park's use of the containers was in the form of beach ticket sales offices and restrooms. As I said, the shops are attractive especially with colorful paint/designs and seemed to be very efficient. Some of the food shops even use two containers.
My hats off to Asbury Park and their forward thinking about recycling and using great common sense!
Til next week.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
AFV
Hi Everyone:
So I've been thinking about this week's blog for a while. I wanted to have a lighter side blog that would be amusing. Since I have been blogging about common sense for 1 1/2 years now, I wondered where I could find the motherload of all motherloads that would showcase people doing stupid things without using any common sense. It finally dawned on me that I had found the supreme showcase of people without common sense. Where did I find it? On TV of course.
With hundreds of channels with our FIOS TV, it was right there in front of me and has been for over 20+ years. What is this lack of common sense TV show? It is none other then America's Funniest Videos, or AFV. I'm pretty sure that each and every one of you have watched this show at some point. AFV shows the best and worst of what happens to people when they do something without using common sense. Each show contains a multitude of people doing sometimes normal stuff and sometimes outrageous things and what pain and/or humiliation they endure afterwards. I have to admit that this is one of the few TV shows that makes me laugh numerous times during each show. The examples are far too numerous to mention, just watch it and see for yourselves.
But then I wondered what would happen to AFV if every person on Earth had great common sense and used it in every aspect of the daily lives. AFV would not have as many people clips then. Consequently, the way I see it, the name would then have to change to something like AFV: Animal Version. The animal clips are just as funny as the people clips are. I'm pretty sure the change would not diminish their ratings.
FYI, AFV is not the only show. There are a lot of others i.e.: COPS, Speeders and Most Amazing Videos etc., etc. My favorite though is AFV. Check it out and have a good laugh at all the people doing stupid things without thinking about the consequences.
Enjoy.
Til next week.
So I've been thinking about this week's blog for a while. I wanted to have a lighter side blog that would be amusing. Since I have been blogging about common sense for 1 1/2 years now, I wondered where I could find the motherload of all motherloads that would showcase people doing stupid things without using any common sense. It finally dawned on me that I had found the supreme showcase of people without common sense. Where did I find it? On TV of course.
With hundreds of channels with our FIOS TV, it was right there in front of me and has been for over 20+ years. What is this lack of common sense TV show? It is none other then America's Funniest Videos, or AFV. I'm pretty sure that each and every one of you have watched this show at some point. AFV shows the best and worst of what happens to people when they do something without using common sense. Each show contains a multitude of people doing sometimes normal stuff and sometimes outrageous things and what pain and/or humiliation they endure afterwards. I have to admit that this is one of the few TV shows that makes me laugh numerous times during each show. The examples are far too numerous to mention, just watch it and see for yourselves.
But then I wondered what would happen to AFV if every person on Earth had great common sense and used it in every aspect of the daily lives. AFV would not have as many people clips then. Consequently, the way I see it, the name would then have to change to something like AFV: Animal Version. The animal clips are just as funny as the people clips are. I'm pretty sure the change would not diminish their ratings.
FYI, AFV is not the only show. There are a lot of others i.e.: COPS, Speeders and Most Amazing Videos etc., etc. My favorite though is AFV. Check it out and have a good laugh at all the people doing stupid things without thinking about the consequences.
Enjoy.
Til next week.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
What Has Happened to the News Media?
Hi Everyone:
Ever since I started this blog, I have been very diligent in giving actual facts involving my weekly topics. One can only truly understand a story in its entirety if you are informed with all of the facts. Today's blog is about what happens when facts are flushed down the toilet.
I am sure everyone has heard about what happened to Shirley Sherrod. Sherrod was an USDA official and was forced to resign from her position by the US Agriculture department over an edited version of a speech she gave. So how did this story go so wrong and get so out of hand so quickly? In order to examine what happened to her, one must look at the facts of this sordid incident. So here are the true facts of what happened:
1- Shirley Sherrod gave a speech at a NAACP gathering and the speech was videoed in its entirety.
2- Andrew Breitbart, a conservative blogger, took her speech and edited it into snippets to try to show a side of Sherrod that was untrue and blatantly a lie. Breitbart knew full well that the edited version would be taken out of context. After posting the edited version, he sat back and watched the s*** hit the fan. Obviously, due to Breitbart's own actions, he showed that he definitely had an agenda to disgrace at least Sherrod and most probably the Obama administration.
3- Fox news took the story and ran with it, showing the edited version of her speech. Fox news made it into big headlines about a black, female, Obama official with the USDA, who is a racist.
4- The NAACP through a spokesperson, said they were very upset and denounced her about what she had said in the edited version.
5- As Sherrod was driving back to her office, from a distance of 3 1/2 hours away, Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack called her and asked her to pull the vehicle over. Then Vilsack told her to resign immediately in writing via her blackberry.
6- During this entire time, Sherrod kept saying that what the video showed was taken out of context and distorted her remarks. She said repeatedly that the entire video of her speech should be viewed and it would show that the story she used was to promote racial reconciliation. Her requests for viewing the entire video fell on deaf ears for far too long.
7- The USDA and the White House finally watched the video in its entirety and realized that a terrible injustice had occurred and that her termination was totally wrong.
8- Tom Vilsack called Sherrod and apologized for his mistake of firing her and offered her a job especially tailored to her skill set from over 20 years with the USDA. Sherrod has yet to give her decision on accepting the new position.
9- The NAACP apologized to Sherrod.
10- President Obama called Sherrod and personally apologized to her in a 7 minute conversation.
11- Even though the USDA, the NAACP and the White House have personally apologized to Sherrod, very mysteriously, neither Fox news or Andrew Breitbart have apologized. I wonder why? Even more curiously, neither the conservative blogger or Fox news have retracted the story. I wonder why again?
12- Without a doubt, everyone rushed to judgement.
13- No one did any due diligence to fact check the blogger's video.
14- It used to be that before a story ran, news organizations would fact check a story prior to running with it to make sure the story was as accurate as possible.
So those are the real facts of this sorry tale, that should have never, ever occurred. So who are the winners in this incident? Absolutely no one!!!! I find fault with the USDA and the White House for not checking the facts and rushing to judgement. But, I find that the NAACP was at the top of the heap for issuing a statement against her when it was at their gathering that she spoke and no one there had any problems with what she said. They even had the whole video that they could have watched to determine that she did nothing wrong.
It is painfully obvious to me that the blogger had an conservative agenda and hasn't been heard from since. But what really pisses me off is that, Fox news has shown its true colors in its conservative agenda. It also appears to me that the conservative movement and Fox news is not interested in principled dialog, but rather resorting to slander, innuendo and out right lies. I really hope that Sherrod sues the idiot blogger and Fox news for slander and defamation of character. There is no way she won't win millions of dollars. Maybe then Rupert Murdoch and Fox news will return to the old ways of checking the facts of a story prior to running it. The blogger and Fox news should be ashamed and should pay dearly for their unprofessional ways. Hey Fox, just so you know, the ends do not justify the means, no matter what you do or say. Where is your retraction and apology? That won't happen because that would admit guilt and open them up for a whopper of a lawsuit. Maybe the court of public opinion will realize that a news media organization that doesn't get all the facts to tell the truth of a story will stop watching their lies and innuendos.
If ever there was an example of not using common sense, this story shows it in spades. No one involved in this story used any common sense what so ever and look what happened to a totally innocent person. Shame on everyone except Shirley Sherrod, you go girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Til next week.
Ever since I started this blog, I have been very diligent in giving actual facts involving my weekly topics. One can only truly understand a story in its entirety if you are informed with all of the facts. Today's blog is about what happens when facts are flushed down the toilet.
I am sure everyone has heard about what happened to Shirley Sherrod. Sherrod was an USDA official and was forced to resign from her position by the US Agriculture department over an edited version of a speech she gave. So how did this story go so wrong and get so out of hand so quickly? In order to examine what happened to her, one must look at the facts of this sordid incident. So here are the true facts of what happened:
1- Shirley Sherrod gave a speech at a NAACP gathering and the speech was videoed in its entirety.
2- Andrew Breitbart, a conservative blogger, took her speech and edited it into snippets to try to show a side of Sherrod that was untrue and blatantly a lie. Breitbart knew full well that the edited version would be taken out of context. After posting the edited version, he sat back and watched the s*** hit the fan. Obviously, due to Breitbart's own actions, he showed that he definitely had an agenda to disgrace at least Sherrod and most probably the Obama administration.
3- Fox news took the story and ran with it, showing the edited version of her speech. Fox news made it into big headlines about a black, female, Obama official with the USDA, who is a racist.
4- The NAACP through a spokesperson, said they were very upset and denounced her about what she had said in the edited version.
5- As Sherrod was driving back to her office, from a distance of 3 1/2 hours away, Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack called her and asked her to pull the vehicle over. Then Vilsack told her to resign immediately in writing via her blackberry.
6- During this entire time, Sherrod kept saying that what the video showed was taken out of context and distorted her remarks. She said repeatedly that the entire video of her speech should be viewed and it would show that the story she used was to promote racial reconciliation. Her requests for viewing the entire video fell on deaf ears for far too long.
7- The USDA and the White House finally watched the video in its entirety and realized that a terrible injustice had occurred and that her termination was totally wrong.
8- Tom Vilsack called Sherrod and apologized for his mistake of firing her and offered her a job especially tailored to her skill set from over 20 years with the USDA. Sherrod has yet to give her decision on accepting the new position.
9- The NAACP apologized to Sherrod.
10- President Obama called Sherrod and personally apologized to her in a 7 minute conversation.
11- Even though the USDA, the NAACP and the White House have personally apologized to Sherrod, very mysteriously, neither Fox news or Andrew Breitbart have apologized. I wonder why? Even more curiously, neither the conservative blogger or Fox news have retracted the story. I wonder why again?
12- Without a doubt, everyone rushed to judgement.
13- No one did any due diligence to fact check the blogger's video.
14- It used to be that before a story ran, news organizations would fact check a story prior to running with it to make sure the story was as accurate as possible.
So those are the real facts of this sorry tale, that should have never, ever occurred. So who are the winners in this incident? Absolutely no one!!!! I find fault with the USDA and the White House for not checking the facts and rushing to judgement. But, I find that the NAACP was at the top of the heap for issuing a statement against her when it was at their gathering that she spoke and no one there had any problems with what she said. They even had the whole video that they could have watched to determine that she did nothing wrong.
It is painfully obvious to me that the blogger had an conservative agenda and hasn't been heard from since. But what really pisses me off is that, Fox news has shown its true colors in its conservative agenda. It also appears to me that the conservative movement and Fox news is not interested in principled dialog, but rather resorting to slander, innuendo and out right lies. I really hope that Sherrod sues the idiot blogger and Fox news for slander and defamation of character. There is no way she won't win millions of dollars. Maybe then Rupert Murdoch and Fox news will return to the old ways of checking the facts of a story prior to running it. The blogger and Fox news should be ashamed and should pay dearly for their unprofessional ways. Hey Fox, just so you know, the ends do not justify the means, no matter what you do or say. Where is your retraction and apology? That won't happen because that would admit guilt and open them up for a whopper of a lawsuit. Maybe the court of public opinion will realize that a news media organization that doesn't get all the facts to tell the truth of a story will stop watching their lies and innuendos.
If ever there was an example of not using common sense, this story shows it in spades. No one involved in this story used any common sense what so ever and look what happened to a totally innocent person. Shame on everyone except Shirley Sherrod, you go girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Til next week.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Highway Department
Hi Everyone:
I have a lot of respect for highway departments, especially in the winter time. Somehow they always manage to clear the roads of snow and make them passable. The area where I live is covered by both the town highway department and the county highway department. The county is responsible for the main road where my driveway is located. It is the only east west road in my county.
This east west road is located, for at least a part of it, along two reservoirs that supply New York City with drinking water. On the other side are the hillsides that supply water to the reservoir via streams and brooks. Whenever we have very heavy rains, the road floods making driving very dangerous. This has been a long standing problem with no attention paid to it. So what is this county highway department doing this summer? They seem to have good intentions to try to alleviate the flooding problem.
For a week, they had a grade-all vehicle, a dump truck and about 8 employees digging a trench between the road and the hillsides. The new trenches do eventually end up at different pipes that divert the water into the reservoirs. The first problem that I noticed is that the distance between the pipes is about 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile apart. That seems to me to be a very long distance for the water to travel before reaching the pipes. I won't know if the long distance is problematic until we have a heavy rain storm.
The second problem that I noticed is more significant and without a doubt will become problematic. While they dug the trenches, they left numerous areas where they ended up making good size depressions with the overflow having to go up hill to continue. Just by looking at it, one can surmise, that during a heavy rain storm, the water will collect in the depressions and become deep because the water has to travel up hill to continue its journey to the pipes. But before the water can do that, it will undoubtedly spill onto the road and the flooding will continue, as if they had done nothing at all. If a novice like me can see the inevitable problem that will occur, why couldn't the highway employees see it? Somehow the supervisor(s) also missed this potential problem. Now I understand that maybe, just maybe they couldn't see the error of their ways when they were up close and personal to the areas. But all one has to do is drive by the areas and anyone can tell what's going to eventually happen.
Where was the common sense in spending all the time and money to accomplish basically nothing? The flooding will continue until someone takes a close look at the work that they did. Water flows down hill and will collect in low lying areas until it floods over. The next heavy rain will prove my point and the road will flood as usual. Then most likely, sometime in the future, they will be back to fix it correctly. If common sense was used the first time, it could have been fixed correctly.
Common sense rules.
Til next week.
I have a lot of respect for highway departments, especially in the winter time. Somehow they always manage to clear the roads of snow and make them passable. The area where I live is covered by both the town highway department and the county highway department. The county is responsible for the main road where my driveway is located. It is the only east west road in my county.
This east west road is located, for at least a part of it, along two reservoirs that supply New York City with drinking water. On the other side are the hillsides that supply water to the reservoir via streams and brooks. Whenever we have very heavy rains, the road floods making driving very dangerous. This has been a long standing problem with no attention paid to it. So what is this county highway department doing this summer? They seem to have good intentions to try to alleviate the flooding problem.
For a week, they had a grade-all vehicle, a dump truck and about 8 employees digging a trench between the road and the hillsides. The new trenches do eventually end up at different pipes that divert the water into the reservoirs. The first problem that I noticed is that the distance between the pipes is about 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile apart. That seems to me to be a very long distance for the water to travel before reaching the pipes. I won't know if the long distance is problematic until we have a heavy rain storm.
The second problem that I noticed is more significant and without a doubt will become problematic. While they dug the trenches, they left numerous areas where they ended up making good size depressions with the overflow having to go up hill to continue. Just by looking at it, one can surmise, that during a heavy rain storm, the water will collect in the depressions and become deep because the water has to travel up hill to continue its journey to the pipes. But before the water can do that, it will undoubtedly spill onto the road and the flooding will continue, as if they had done nothing at all. If a novice like me can see the inevitable problem that will occur, why couldn't the highway employees see it? Somehow the supervisor(s) also missed this potential problem. Now I understand that maybe, just maybe they couldn't see the error of their ways when they were up close and personal to the areas. But all one has to do is drive by the areas and anyone can tell what's going to eventually happen.
Where was the common sense in spending all the time and money to accomplish basically nothing? The flooding will continue until someone takes a close look at the work that they did. Water flows down hill and will collect in low lying areas until it floods over. The next heavy rain will prove my point and the road will flood as usual. Then most likely, sometime in the future, they will be back to fix it correctly. If common sense was used the first time, it could have been fixed correctly.
Common sense rules.
Til next week.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Hi Everyone:
Is it just me or are other people noticing that drivers on highways are getting worse and worse with each passing year? Just yesterday I was traveling on an interstate highway in New York and Connecticut, when I witnessed an exorbitant amount of people who do not use common sense while driving.
My first issue is with all the drivers, and there sure seems to be a lot of them, who do not signal prior to changing lanes. Even if there is tons of room to change lanes, it just makes common sense to signal first to let everyone who can see you, now know what your intentions are. Now when there isn't a whole lot of room to cut into the next lane, it is absolutely asinine to cut in , which shouldn't be done in the first place or at least signaling first. I mean it is so very dangerous to change lanes without using the dumb-guy blinkers.
The next issue that I witnessed yesterday occurred with at least 3 drivers. So there you are driving along at the speed limit, going with the flow, when someone either in front of you or to the side of you applies their brakes for no apparent reason. This actually occurred going up a hill as well as going down a hill. Again there is no common sense in putting on your brakes when not necessary. Around here, just that one car doing that can cause the start of slow down zone.
The last issue that I witnessed yesterday, as well as every day that I drive on any road, anywhere, are people talking on their cell phones as well as texting while driving. Something can happen so fast, when you are driving at highway speeds, to make you lose control and get into an accident. Why take the chance of having your attention diverted? As a side note, I see all ages using their cell phones. Obviously common sense is not being used. As I said in a previous blog, there should be some kind of common sense class that all people should have to take and pass, prior to getting their license. How many times have we each seen some driver that does something really stupid? I believe that in a perfect world, if each and every driver used common sense to the max while driving, there would be hardly any accidents, except mechanical failures.
Driving and common sense go hand in hand.
Til next week.
Is it just me or are other people noticing that drivers on highways are getting worse and worse with each passing year? Just yesterday I was traveling on an interstate highway in New York and Connecticut, when I witnessed an exorbitant amount of people who do not use common sense while driving.
My first issue is with all the drivers, and there sure seems to be a lot of them, who do not signal prior to changing lanes. Even if there is tons of room to change lanes, it just makes common sense to signal first to let everyone who can see you, now know what your intentions are. Now when there isn't a whole lot of room to cut into the next lane, it is absolutely asinine to cut in , which shouldn't be done in the first place or at least signaling first. I mean it is so very dangerous to change lanes without using the dumb-guy blinkers.
The next issue that I witnessed yesterday occurred with at least 3 drivers. So there you are driving along at the speed limit, going with the flow, when someone either in front of you or to the side of you applies their brakes for no apparent reason. This actually occurred going up a hill as well as going down a hill. Again there is no common sense in putting on your brakes when not necessary. Around here, just that one car doing that can cause the start of slow down zone.
The last issue that I witnessed yesterday, as well as every day that I drive on any road, anywhere, are people talking on their cell phones as well as texting while driving. Something can happen so fast, when you are driving at highway speeds, to make you lose control and get into an accident. Why take the chance of having your attention diverted? As a side note, I see all ages using their cell phones. Obviously common sense is not being used. As I said in a previous blog, there should be some kind of common sense class that all people should have to take and pass, prior to getting their license. How many times have we each seen some driver that does something really stupid? I believe that in a perfect world, if each and every driver used common sense to the max while driving, there would be hardly any accidents, except mechanical failures.
Driving and common sense go hand in hand.
Til next week.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Stupidity and Lack of Common Sense Combined Again
Hi Everyone:
Lately I have read more and more articles about stupid people who did stupid things more then once and all without the help of any common sense. What am I talking about? I am talking about convicted criminals on parole, people with active warrants for their arrest and drug runners etc. What I am not talking about is how they got into trouble with the law the first time. Obviously if they had any common sense, they wouldn't have gotten into trouble in the first place and consequently the second half of what they did wouldn't be news worthy.
What a lot of these people, both men and women have in common, is what they did after getting into trouble the first time. So there they are, on parole or a fugitive running from the law or trying to deliver their illegal shipments of drugs and a lot of them do something that defies any common sense. They get caught for a seemingly minor traffic infraction of speeding. Yes speeding. Let's think about this one for a minute. If someone has a warrant for their arrest or on parole or running drugs, the last thing that they want or need is to get pulled over for speeding and then the cop finds out about their past and they are arrested.
It is obvious that these people also missed out both on brains and common sense since they got into trouble in the first place. Then they knowingly speed and get caught. What are these people thinking? They know that if they get caught by the police, they are in for double trouble. If I had law problems, I would make damn sure that I didn't do something that would get me caught. My common sense would kick in and I would make sure that I followed every speed limit, traffic control device and make sure that all my vehicle lights work, to try not to get caught. But that's me.
A good example is when last week, a Lake Peekskill, NY man wanted by Virginia authorities and had an outstanding warrant for his arrest for 4 counts each of robbery, abduction and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. So what did this brainiac do at 11:45 at night? He was speeding at 87 mph in a 55 mph zone. He got caught, pulled over and then arrested for the outstanding warrant.
Another example is when drug runners get caught speeding with their vehicle loaded with drugs. They obviously knew that they were running drugs and if they get caught, they are screwed for life. But they sped any way and got caught. The answer to what were they thinking is they weren't. Their damn the torpedoes and full steam ahead attitude just doesn't work.
If they had any common sense, they may not have gotten into trouble in the first place making the second infraction i.e.: speeding, a moot point. But nooooooooo, since they don't have any common sense, they will probably keep getting into trouble again and again. It is really very unfortunate that stupidity and a lack of common sense can so easily go hand in hand.
Common sense really does rule.
Til next week.
Lately I have read more and more articles about stupid people who did stupid things more then once and all without the help of any common sense. What am I talking about? I am talking about convicted criminals on parole, people with active warrants for their arrest and drug runners etc. What I am not talking about is how they got into trouble with the law the first time. Obviously if they had any common sense, they wouldn't have gotten into trouble in the first place and consequently the second half of what they did wouldn't be news worthy.
What a lot of these people, both men and women have in common, is what they did after getting into trouble the first time. So there they are, on parole or a fugitive running from the law or trying to deliver their illegal shipments of drugs and a lot of them do something that defies any common sense. They get caught for a seemingly minor traffic infraction of speeding. Yes speeding. Let's think about this one for a minute. If someone has a warrant for their arrest or on parole or running drugs, the last thing that they want or need is to get pulled over for speeding and then the cop finds out about their past and they are arrested.
It is obvious that these people also missed out both on brains and common sense since they got into trouble in the first place. Then they knowingly speed and get caught. What are these people thinking? They know that if they get caught by the police, they are in for double trouble. If I had law problems, I would make damn sure that I didn't do something that would get me caught. My common sense would kick in and I would make sure that I followed every speed limit, traffic control device and make sure that all my vehicle lights work, to try not to get caught. But that's me.
A good example is when last week, a Lake Peekskill, NY man wanted by Virginia authorities and had an outstanding warrant for his arrest for 4 counts each of robbery, abduction and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. So what did this brainiac do at 11:45 at night? He was speeding at 87 mph in a 55 mph zone. He got caught, pulled over and then arrested for the outstanding warrant.
Another example is when drug runners get caught speeding with their vehicle loaded with drugs. They obviously knew that they were running drugs and if they get caught, they are screwed for life. But they sped any way and got caught. The answer to what were they thinking is they weren't. Their damn the torpedoes and full steam ahead attitude just doesn't work.
If they had any common sense, they may not have gotten into trouble in the first place making the second infraction i.e.: speeding, a moot point. But nooooooooo, since they don't have any common sense, they will probably keep getting into trouble again and again. It is really very unfortunate that stupidity and a lack of common sense can so easily go hand in hand.
Common sense really does rule.
Til next week.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
A Two Legged Ostrich?
Hi Everyone:
Last week, while I was getting a dinner ready, I had the TV on and the evening news was on. At one point I thought I heard something about someone saying something so utterly stupid and upsetting, that I had to dig into the story for more details.
This is a true story and Don Young really, really said it. Just google Don Young and see for yourself. Don't know who Don Young is? Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) is a duly elected official with a serious problem. On June 3rd, 2010, Young had some things to say about the Gulf gusher disaster. After Congressional hearings he started by saying not to worry about the oil spilling into the Gulf, because the worst spill in U.S. history is "not an environmental disaster, just nature taking its course". My response to that is what the hell planet did you just come from?
Young continued by saying, "this is not an environmental disaster and I will say that again and again because it is a natural phenomenon." "Oil has seeped into this ocean for centuries and will continue to do it. During World War II there was over 10 million barrels of oil spilled from ships and no catastrophe.......... We will lose some birds, we will lose some fixed sea life, but overall it will recover."
Oh by the way, did you know the Rep. Young has notoriously close and longstanding ties with the oil companies? He even went on to criticize the Obama administration's stated moratorium on new offshore drilling permits, in the wake of the Gulf spill.
Rightfully so, the Alaska Republican has already taken heat for those comments from his challengers on both sides of the aisle. "The man is an ostrich," Democrat Harry Crawford said. "he has his head in the sand if he can't see that this is one of the biggest, if not the biggest, man-made disaster in history." Republican challenger John Cox said, "we know there's a problem. We know that this is a major disaster."
How can a person supposedly smart enough to get elected, be so stupid by saying there is no disaster. Well you have to admit that here is another politician with absolutely no common sense what so ever! His lack of common sense knows no bounds. First of all, all you have to do is watch any TV news program and you will see the disaster unfolding and getting worse with each passing day. Secondly, how can anyone say that this is a natural phenomenon? This is a man-made disaster without any doubt about it. And thirdly, because this disaster occurred prior to the oil well going on line, it was correct to place a moratorium on any new permits. That is just plain old common sense.
An Unfortunate side effect of Young's statements is that there will be people who will believe what he says and continue to propagate his outright lies.
Til next week.
Last week, while I was getting a dinner ready, I had the TV on and the evening news was on. At one point I thought I heard something about someone saying something so utterly stupid and upsetting, that I had to dig into the story for more details.
This is a true story and Don Young really, really said it. Just google Don Young and see for yourself. Don't know who Don Young is? Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) is a duly elected official with a serious problem. On June 3rd, 2010, Young had some things to say about the Gulf gusher disaster. After Congressional hearings he started by saying not to worry about the oil spilling into the Gulf, because the worst spill in U.S. history is "not an environmental disaster, just nature taking its course". My response to that is what the hell planet did you just come from?
Young continued by saying, "this is not an environmental disaster and I will say that again and again because it is a natural phenomenon." "Oil has seeped into this ocean for centuries and will continue to do it. During World War II there was over 10 million barrels of oil spilled from ships and no catastrophe.......... We will lose some birds, we will lose some fixed sea life, but overall it will recover."
Oh by the way, did you know the Rep. Young has notoriously close and longstanding ties with the oil companies? He even went on to criticize the Obama administration's stated moratorium on new offshore drilling permits, in the wake of the Gulf spill.
Rightfully so, the Alaska Republican has already taken heat for those comments from his challengers on both sides of the aisle. "The man is an ostrich," Democrat Harry Crawford said. "he has his head in the sand if he can't see that this is one of the biggest, if not the biggest, man-made disaster in history." Republican challenger John Cox said, "we know there's a problem. We know that this is a major disaster."
How can a person supposedly smart enough to get elected, be so stupid by saying there is no disaster. Well you have to admit that here is another politician with absolutely no common sense what so ever! His lack of common sense knows no bounds. First of all, all you have to do is watch any TV news program and you will see the disaster unfolding and getting worse with each passing day. Secondly, how can anyone say that this is a natural phenomenon? This is a man-made disaster without any doubt about it. And thirdly, because this disaster occurred prior to the oil well going on line, it was correct to place a moratorium on any new permits. That is just plain old common sense.
An Unfortunate side effect of Young's statements is that there will be people who will believe what he says and continue to propagate his outright lies.
Til next week.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Stupidity At Its Best
Hi Everyone:
Just when I thought that I had heard it all about politicians and their idiotic decisions this story came to light. Both the Governor of New York State and the Mayor of the City of White Plains, New York made the same decisions without using any common sense what so ever!!!
The state of New York and the City of White Plains both have the same the financial problems. They both have deficits due to the "Great Recession" meaning not enough money coming in. So what is a politician to do in such a situation? Well you won't believe what these two men did. Besides making some cursory cuts, both politicians asked the multitude of unions for concessions to the existing contracts. Both politicians wanted the numerous unions to fore go upcoming raises to freeze wages and to cut employees work week to four days with a 20% decrease in pay. OK that sounds logical. I still think that both the state and the city could have and should have made major cuts in spending with heavy lay offs to accompany the cuts.
So what did these two morons, who call themselves politicians, do after requesting the union concessions? In their infinite wisdom and a total lack of common sense, they gave pay raises to their closest aides and appointed positions. Now these weren't raises that coincided with the union percentage of raises. No, these two idiots decided to give raises that ranged from about 5%up to 16%!? WHAT? Both men said that their aides and appointed positions employees deserved the raises. Anybody with any business sense and an ounce of common sense would not ask unions for concessions and then give raises to non-union appointed positions. This is just so wrong on every level.
The stupidity of their decisions is mind boggling. I just don't get how they could think it would be OK to give non-union appointed employees raises while asking for concessions from the union employees. The unions took both men to task, and rightfully so, for their unbelievably stupid decisions. It is common knowledge that the appointed positions are filled by friends or business associates of the politician in charge. If they thought that they could reward their friends and associates with unjustly pay increases, they were sorely wrong. Needless to say, all the unions said no to the concessions after learning of the non-union raises. So both the state's and the city's financial problems have gotten worse instead of better.
Making decisions without the use of common sense can make the decision maker look stupid, idiotic, moronic or any other derogatory adjective that you can think of. Maybe there should be a common sense test given to all potential politicians prior to running for any elected office, just to make sure that they actually do have some common sense. We can't go on like this without using common sense in each and every decision made.
FYI, my common sense approach would be to ask for the concessions from the unions and whatever is agreed upon would have to affect the non-union employees equally.
Enough said!
Til next week.
Just when I thought that I had heard it all about politicians and their idiotic decisions this story came to light. Both the Governor of New York State and the Mayor of the City of White Plains, New York made the same decisions without using any common sense what so ever!!!
The state of New York and the City of White Plains both have the same the financial problems. They both have deficits due to the "Great Recession" meaning not enough money coming in. So what is a politician to do in such a situation? Well you won't believe what these two men did. Besides making some cursory cuts, both politicians asked the multitude of unions for concessions to the existing contracts. Both politicians wanted the numerous unions to fore go upcoming raises to freeze wages and to cut employees work week to four days with a 20% decrease in pay. OK that sounds logical. I still think that both the state and the city could have and should have made major cuts in spending with heavy lay offs to accompany the cuts.
So what did these two morons, who call themselves politicians, do after requesting the union concessions? In their infinite wisdom and a total lack of common sense, they gave pay raises to their closest aides and appointed positions. Now these weren't raises that coincided with the union percentage of raises. No, these two idiots decided to give raises that ranged from about 5%up to 16%!? WHAT? Both men said that their aides and appointed positions employees deserved the raises. Anybody with any business sense and an ounce of common sense would not ask unions for concessions and then give raises to non-union appointed positions. This is just so wrong on every level.
The stupidity of their decisions is mind boggling. I just don't get how they could think it would be OK to give non-union appointed employees raises while asking for concessions from the union employees. The unions took both men to task, and rightfully so, for their unbelievably stupid decisions. It is common knowledge that the appointed positions are filled by friends or business associates of the politician in charge. If they thought that they could reward their friends and associates with unjustly pay increases, they were sorely wrong. Needless to say, all the unions said no to the concessions after learning of the non-union raises. So both the state's and the city's financial problems have gotten worse instead of better.
Making decisions without the use of common sense can make the decision maker look stupid, idiotic, moronic or any other derogatory adjective that you can think of. Maybe there should be a common sense test given to all potential politicians prior to running for any elected office, just to make sure that they actually do have some common sense. We can't go on like this without using common sense in each and every decision made.
FYI, my common sense approach would be to ask for the concessions from the unions and whatever is agreed upon would have to affect the non-union employees equally.
Enough said!
Til next week.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
You Won't Believe This One!
Hi Everyone:
So there I was this past week, minding my own business, reading my local Gannett newspaper, when I read this article that really shocked me at first then got me really MAD! The story goes like this:
Fifty-one New York City bus drivers took an average of two (yes 2!) months off last year with pay after being spat upon by upset riders. This indignity is considered an assault under their union contract, entitling them to the paid break. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) said 83 drivers were spat on last year. Of those, 51 took paid time off averaging 64 days. One spat upon driver took 191 days of paid leave. The driver's union says the encounters cause psychological trauma.
I don't know about you, but taking 191 days off, for being spat upon, seems extremely absurd, way out of line and should never have happened. The whole idea that the union contract covers being spat upon as an assault is excessive. Union contract clauses such as this have become the epitome of what is wrong with unions and their gimmie, gimmie approach to contract negotiations. Having negotiated many union contracts, I am pretty sure how clauses like this get into a contract. The union asks for either some outrageous wage increase or some other entitlement and then will "settle" for a clause like this one.
When management (foolishly) agreed to this demand, little did they know much much it would cost them. If you say drivers earn an average of $25/hour (low ball amount, I think the wage would be closer to $40/hour) times 8 hours per day equals $200/day. Now multiply $200 times 51 drivers and that equals $10,200 for each paid day off. Now multiply the $10,200 times the average of 64 days and you have $652,800 that the MTA paid out for drivers being spat upon last year. That is a ridiculus amount. The MTA runs a deficit almost every year and they wonder why? If, as an example, the contract that this clause became effective is 3 years old, (I don't know when this clause became effective) then the MTA paid out almost $2 million dollars over the three years; just for being spat upon! Unfortunately, once a clause like this is agreed upon by both sides, then it is next to impossible to remove it and the MTA is stuck with it like dog poop on your shoes. Clauses like this stink and should have never been agreed to.
It is painfully obvious that management didn't use any common sense in negotiating and then incredibly agreeing to that clause. Those drivers that had to take on average 64 days of paid leave for being spat upon should be investigated for fraud, including the doctors, who are union paid. Who needs 64 days off to get over being spat upon? The answer is only union bus drivers.
Common sense rules and spitting literally drools.
Til next week.
So there I was this past week, minding my own business, reading my local Gannett newspaper, when I read this article that really shocked me at first then got me really MAD! The story goes like this:
Fifty-one New York City bus drivers took an average of two (yes 2!) months off last year with pay after being spat upon by upset riders. This indignity is considered an assault under their union contract, entitling them to the paid break. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) said 83 drivers were spat on last year. Of those, 51 took paid time off averaging 64 days. One spat upon driver took 191 days of paid leave. The driver's union says the encounters cause psychological trauma.
I don't know about you, but taking 191 days off, for being spat upon, seems extremely absurd, way out of line and should never have happened. The whole idea that the union contract covers being spat upon as an assault is excessive. Union contract clauses such as this have become the epitome of what is wrong with unions and their gimmie, gimmie approach to contract negotiations. Having negotiated many union contracts, I am pretty sure how clauses like this get into a contract. The union asks for either some outrageous wage increase or some other entitlement and then will "settle" for a clause like this one.
When management (foolishly) agreed to this demand, little did they know much much it would cost them. If you say drivers earn an average of $25/hour (low ball amount, I think the wage would be closer to $40/hour) times 8 hours per day equals $200/day. Now multiply $200 times 51 drivers and that equals $10,200 for each paid day off. Now multiply the $10,200 times the average of 64 days and you have $652,800 that the MTA paid out for drivers being spat upon last year. That is a ridiculus amount. The MTA runs a deficit almost every year and they wonder why? If, as an example, the contract that this clause became effective is 3 years old, (I don't know when this clause became effective) then the MTA paid out almost $2 million dollars over the three years; just for being spat upon! Unfortunately, once a clause like this is agreed upon by both sides, then it is next to impossible to remove it and the MTA is stuck with it like dog poop on your shoes. Clauses like this stink and should have never been agreed to.
It is painfully obvious that management didn't use any common sense in negotiating and then incredibly agreeing to that clause. Those drivers that had to take on average 64 days of paid leave for being spat upon should be investigated for fraud, including the doctors, who are union paid. Who needs 64 days off to get over being spat upon? The answer is only union bus drivers.
Common sense rules and spitting literally drools.
Til next week.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Putnam County Deputy Sheriff
Hi Everyone:
Over the past 16 months I have written about many topics that lack common sense. Today's blog is so unbelievable that you will think that it is not possible; but alas unfortunately, it is!
Here in Putnam County, New York, most towns have their own police departments, but there is also a Putnam County Sheriff's department. One of the Deputy Sheriff's is Barbara Dunn. Dunn was a Deputy Sheriff for 13 years. Dunn was also the president of the Putnam Humane Society. To make a very convoluted story short, Dunn was indicted in October 2009 after a three year investigation that included the FBI and the District Attorney's office. (As a side note, the District Attorney here in Putnam County is Adam Levy, who is the son of Judge Judy on TV lol).
After a trial, last Friday, Dunn was found guilty of seven counts of perjury, all of which were felonies. She was told to report to the Probation Department for an interview and return to court August 16 for sentencing. She faces 28 months to seven years in prison on each count of perjury in the first degree, a class D felony.
Now all of this seems fine, so what is the problem and why am I writing about this? Well, after the conviction was announced, Sheriff Donald B. Smith put Dunn on administrative suspension, pending a departmental hearing, that has not been scheduled yet. That means that Dunn continues to receive her $75,876 per year salary. WHAT????? Dunn is convicted of seven felonies and she gets to continue receiving her full salary? I mean how stupid is that? Even if the union contract states that is the procedure to follow; I believe that the contract should be changed asap to allow for immediate termination after being convicted of just one felony and then case closed.
Where is the common sense by allowing her to continue receiving her full salary? Yea, that's right, there is no common sense here. It just amazes me how stupid some union contracts are and how they are negotiated without using any common sense.
For your information, as a foot note, Dunn is awaiting a second trial on charges that she fraudulently collected $56,000 for a workplace injury that prosecutors say actually occurred while she was horseback riding. Wait there's more: Dunn is also awaiting a civil trial from the person who was wronged in the case where she was just convicted of perjury.
Common sense rules and lying drools.
Til next week.
Over the past 16 months I have written about many topics that lack common sense. Today's blog is so unbelievable that you will think that it is not possible; but alas unfortunately, it is!
Here in Putnam County, New York, most towns have their own police departments, but there is also a Putnam County Sheriff's department. One of the Deputy Sheriff's is Barbara Dunn. Dunn was a Deputy Sheriff for 13 years. Dunn was also the president of the Putnam Humane Society. To make a very convoluted story short, Dunn was indicted in October 2009 after a three year investigation that included the FBI and the District Attorney's office. (As a side note, the District Attorney here in Putnam County is Adam Levy, who is the son of Judge Judy on TV lol).
After a trial, last Friday, Dunn was found guilty of seven counts of perjury, all of which were felonies. She was told to report to the Probation Department for an interview and return to court August 16 for sentencing. She faces 28 months to seven years in prison on each count of perjury in the first degree, a class D felony.
Now all of this seems fine, so what is the problem and why am I writing about this? Well, after the conviction was announced, Sheriff Donald B. Smith put Dunn on administrative suspension, pending a departmental hearing, that has not been scheduled yet. That means that Dunn continues to receive her $75,876 per year salary. WHAT????? Dunn is convicted of seven felonies and she gets to continue receiving her full salary? I mean how stupid is that? Even if the union contract states that is the procedure to follow; I believe that the contract should be changed asap to allow for immediate termination after being convicted of just one felony and then case closed.
Where is the common sense by allowing her to continue receiving her full salary? Yea, that's right, there is no common sense here. It just amazes me how stupid some union contracts are and how they are negotiated without using any common sense.
For your information, as a foot note, Dunn is awaiting a second trial on charges that she fraudulently collected $56,000 for a workplace injury that prosecutors say actually occurred while she was horseback riding. Wait there's more: Dunn is also awaiting a civil trial from the person who was wronged in the case where she was just convicted of perjury.
Common sense rules and lying drools.
Til next week.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Cool Invention
Hi Everyone:
The blog that I was going to write today has been postponed due to the coolest invention/tool (?) that I saw in use today and I just had to write about it. I don't know how long this tool has been around, but today was the first time that I had seen it and I was impressed. Those of you who know me, know that it takes a lot to impress me.
So the story goes like this: our old refrigerator wasn't freezing so well anymore, so last night we went to Sears and bought a new one. The new refrigerator was delivered today, yes today, on a Sunday and it only cost an extra $10 to do so. There were 2 deliverymen. One was about 5'10" and the other was about 5'5". The truck was huge and had an electric lift gate on the rear. After lowering the refrig to the ground, they removed the cardboard box and placed a strap, that was about 4-5" wide, under the bottom of the refrig. Next they stood at opposite sides of the refrig and attached the strap ends to the other end of this cool invention while bending over some. Both guys had the same size width straps that crisscrossed over their shoulder blades and attached to a buckle at their mid section. The end of that section was where the strap that went under the refrig attached to. Then they stood up slowly and proceeded to walk the refrig right up to the door, at a fast paced clip if I say so myself.
I was amazed at how easily they were able to maneuver the refrig through the door. It was so much more easier then any other way I have seen or used, even when I have moved refrigerators. A very important fact here that I must add or I would be remiss, is the fact that both guys were always communicating with each other to make moving seem effortless. This is a well thought out tool to use to lift heavy objects. It is obvious that common sense was used in the inventing and designing of it. Both the guys said that they loved it. They said it was the best and easiest tool to use. It is called a shoulder harness and supposedly you can check it out at shoulderharness.com.
Til next week.
The blog that I was going to write today has been postponed due to the coolest invention/tool (?) that I saw in use today and I just had to write about it. I don't know how long this tool has been around, but today was the first time that I had seen it and I was impressed. Those of you who know me, know that it takes a lot to impress me.
So the story goes like this: our old refrigerator wasn't freezing so well anymore, so last night we went to Sears and bought a new one. The new refrigerator was delivered today, yes today, on a Sunday and it only cost an extra $10 to do so. There were 2 deliverymen. One was about 5'10" and the other was about 5'5". The truck was huge and had an electric lift gate on the rear. After lowering the refrig to the ground, they removed the cardboard box and placed a strap, that was about 4-5" wide, under the bottom of the refrig. Next they stood at opposite sides of the refrig and attached the strap ends to the other end of this cool invention while bending over some. Both guys had the same size width straps that crisscrossed over their shoulder blades and attached to a buckle at their mid section. The end of that section was where the strap that went under the refrig attached to. Then they stood up slowly and proceeded to walk the refrig right up to the door, at a fast paced clip if I say so myself.
I was amazed at how easily they were able to maneuver the refrig through the door. It was so much more easier then any other way I have seen or used, even when I have moved refrigerators. A very important fact here that I must add or I would be remiss, is the fact that both guys were always communicating with each other to make moving seem effortless. This is a well thought out tool to use to lift heavy objects. It is obvious that common sense was used in the inventing and designing of it. Both the guys said that they loved it. They said it was the best and easiest tool to use. It is called a shoulder harness and supposedly you can check it out at shoulderharness.com.
Til next week.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Blow Out
Hi Everyone:
Well I hate to be the bearer of bad news but the "drill baby drill" mantra now needs to be changed to "spill baby spill." The oil rig, called Horizon, out in the Gulf of Mexico, caught fire last week. Then it sunk and now is leaking oil at a rate of 200,000 gallons per day. British Petroleum who doesn't own the rig but owns the well and supervises the rig, originally stated that there was no leak from the well head. That then changed to: it was leaking about 1,000 gallons per day. Then that changed to 2,000 gallons per day. Now we are informed that the well head at the bottom of the gulf is leaking 200,000 gallons per day. In only a few weeks, this will become the biggest and more than likely, the worst environment catastrophe this country has seen since the Exxon Valdez split open and spilled some 11 million gallons of oil. That oil found its way to the pristine Alaskan shore line and did unbelievable damage not only to fish and game, but also the loss of tens of thousands of jobs connected to the fishing industry.
Today's blog is not about the fact the BP had tried numerous times to minimize the amount of oil leaking and any impact of environment damage due to a leak. Today' blog is about what BP did not do. What am I talking about? Well, no pun intended, (according to the Gannett paper), in 2009, BP filed a 52 page exploration plan with the federal Minerals Management Service for the Horizon well. In that plan, BP suggested it was unlikely, or virtually impossible for an accident to occur that would lead to a giant crude oil spill or do serious damage to the beaches, fish, mammals and fisheries. BP reiterated in another section of the plan that it was "unlikely that an accidental surface or subsurface oil spill would occur from the proposed activities".
Well, well, well, those statements certainty turned out to be untrue. As I write this blog the oil has reached the outer marshes off Louisiana. In writing that plan, BP relied on 30+ years of off-shore exploration with no oil spills or leaks or any environmental damage. But what really pisses me off is that BP never planned for, in any way, shape or form for any oil spill of this magnitude. Even the unit that was suppose to turn off the well head failed which lead to this forth coming environment disaster. Since no oil spills had ever happened, BP probably thought why plan for something that hasn't occurred. So due to either: stupidity, ignorance, a bottom line mentality or just plain old lack of common sense, this country finds itself in the face of a man-made environmental disaster like we have never seen. As the saying goes, hindsight is 20/20, but using common sense to be prepared for any kind of accidental oil spill is of the utmost importance.
So if I had any say in what is currently happening, the following would be my common sense approaches to this problem:
1) No new off-shore oil rigs would go online until the company has a plan for "giant" oil spills/leaks.
2) A better emergency, fail safe well head unit that automatically turns off the spigot due to any abnormal occurrence, must be installed in each and every oil rig, new and old.
3) Big oil companies together should devise and build some kind of "thing" that would capture the oil in either a minor or major leak. I have heard that right now a company is building a very large dome structure that would sit over the well head. This dome would capture the leaking oil, since oil is lighter then water. A pipe is attached to the top of the dome where the oil is pumped up and loaded into a tanker ship. Wow, what a great idea and it uses common sense to find a logical and practical solution.
Since the dome isn't fully manufactured yet, we can only hope that BP and/or the federal government can figure out a way to stop the uncontrolled flowing oil and to be able to clean up all of the oil that has leaked.
Til next week.
Well I hate to be the bearer of bad news but the "drill baby drill" mantra now needs to be changed to "spill baby spill." The oil rig, called Horizon, out in the Gulf of Mexico, caught fire last week. Then it sunk and now is leaking oil at a rate of 200,000 gallons per day. British Petroleum who doesn't own the rig but owns the well and supervises the rig, originally stated that there was no leak from the well head. That then changed to: it was leaking about 1,000 gallons per day. Then that changed to 2,000 gallons per day. Now we are informed that the well head at the bottom of the gulf is leaking 200,000 gallons per day. In only a few weeks, this will become the biggest and more than likely, the worst environment catastrophe this country has seen since the Exxon Valdez split open and spilled some 11 million gallons of oil. That oil found its way to the pristine Alaskan shore line and did unbelievable damage not only to fish and game, but also the loss of tens of thousands of jobs connected to the fishing industry.
Today's blog is not about the fact the BP had tried numerous times to minimize the amount of oil leaking and any impact of environment damage due to a leak. Today' blog is about what BP did not do. What am I talking about? Well, no pun intended, (according to the Gannett paper), in 2009, BP filed a 52 page exploration plan with the federal Minerals Management Service for the Horizon well. In that plan, BP suggested it was unlikely, or virtually impossible for an accident to occur that would lead to a giant crude oil spill or do serious damage to the beaches, fish, mammals and fisheries. BP reiterated in another section of the plan that it was "unlikely that an accidental surface or subsurface oil spill would occur from the proposed activities".
Well, well, well, those statements certainty turned out to be untrue. As I write this blog the oil has reached the outer marshes off Louisiana. In writing that plan, BP relied on 30+ years of off-shore exploration with no oil spills or leaks or any environmental damage. But what really pisses me off is that BP never planned for, in any way, shape or form for any oil spill of this magnitude. Even the unit that was suppose to turn off the well head failed which lead to this forth coming environment disaster. Since no oil spills had ever happened, BP probably thought why plan for something that hasn't occurred. So due to either: stupidity, ignorance, a bottom line mentality or just plain old lack of common sense, this country finds itself in the face of a man-made environmental disaster like we have never seen. As the saying goes, hindsight is 20/20, but using common sense to be prepared for any kind of accidental oil spill is of the utmost importance.
So if I had any say in what is currently happening, the following would be my common sense approaches to this problem:
1) No new off-shore oil rigs would go online until the company has a plan for "giant" oil spills/leaks.
2) A better emergency, fail safe well head unit that automatically turns off the spigot due to any abnormal occurrence, must be installed in each and every oil rig, new and old.
3) Big oil companies together should devise and build some kind of "thing" that would capture the oil in either a minor or major leak. I have heard that right now a company is building a very large dome structure that would sit over the well head. This dome would capture the leaking oil, since oil is lighter then water. A pipe is attached to the top of the dome where the oil is pumped up and loaded into a tanker ship. Wow, what a great idea and it uses common sense to find a logical and practical solution.
Since the dome isn't fully manufactured yet, we can only hope that BP and/or the federal government can figure out a way to stop the uncontrolled flowing oil and to be able to clean up all of the oil that has leaked.
Til next week.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Banking Reform
Hi Everyone:
Well it finally happened this week and it was a long time coming, but deservedly so. So what happened? The Security and Exchange Commission has accused Goldman Sachs of fraud and has filed civil charges against the powerful 140 year old Wall Street firm.
According to Gannet news, the SEC said that Goldman failed to reveal one of its clients helped create and then bet against sub prime mortgage securities that Goldman sold to others. The fraud was orchestrated by a Goldman VP, Fabrice Tourres in 2007 and since then he was promoted to executive director of Goldman Sachs International in London. Tourres even boasted of his ability to put together such deals as the mortgage market was unraveling in early 2007.
The client who helped Tourres is a hedge fund manager. He knew that the bundled sub-prime mortgages were going to fail and bet against them to make an obscene amount of money.
Two European banks that bought the securities of bundled sub-prime mortgages lost nearly $1 billion according to the SEC. The agency is seeking to recoup the huge profits reaped in the deals. Goldman of course denied any wrong doing and said that the charges are unfounded and will contest them. The lawsuit filed by the SEC is the government's most significant legal action related to the mortgage meltdown that ignited the financial crisis and helped to plunge our country into the Great Recession. Selling bundled sub-prime mortgages as Securities that you know will fail is wrong on so many levels. Goldman Sachs will no longer be thought of as a well run company and as a trusted advisor to investment banking clients. Even in recent years, Goldman shifted toward taking more and more risks with their clients and even their own money.
I believe that in order to stop any more big banks and Wall Street firms from entering into such poorly thought out and extremely volatile deals, the only common sense solution is with banking reform. I haven't read enough about the banking reform details to form an opinion as to what the best reforms should be. But doing nothing is not the answer. Doing nothing can not and will not stop any other firm(s) from trying to do either the same thing or something similar. So obviously common sense dictates that something must be done.
Unfortunately, the 41 US Senate Republicans don't see it that way and have signed a letter stating their opposition to any banking reforms. The big banks must never be allowed to do these kind of deals ever again. I know that the Senate Republicans stated after the Health care reform bill was passed to never work with the Democrats again. So instead of trying to help protect the American public with banking reform, the Republicans have showed that their allegiance is with big businesses/banks and let them run unimpeded without any needed regulations. Let's stop bickering like school children and protect the American public. The constitution protects Americans rights and so should banking reform.
Politicians need more common sense in order to realize what the correct solution should be and not about being re-elected or rhetoric or just saying no. Saying no won't go! We should never ever find ourselves in a similar situation caused by greedy banks.
Til next week.
Well it finally happened this week and it was a long time coming, but deservedly so. So what happened? The Security and Exchange Commission has accused Goldman Sachs of fraud and has filed civil charges against the powerful 140 year old Wall Street firm.
According to Gannet news, the SEC said that Goldman failed to reveal one of its clients helped create and then bet against sub prime mortgage securities that Goldman sold to others. The fraud was orchestrated by a Goldman VP, Fabrice Tourres in 2007 and since then he was promoted to executive director of Goldman Sachs International in London. Tourres even boasted of his ability to put together such deals as the mortgage market was unraveling in early 2007.
The client who helped Tourres is a hedge fund manager. He knew that the bundled sub-prime mortgages were going to fail and bet against them to make an obscene amount of money.
Two European banks that bought the securities of bundled sub-prime mortgages lost nearly $1 billion according to the SEC. The agency is seeking to recoup the huge profits reaped in the deals. Goldman of course denied any wrong doing and said that the charges are unfounded and will contest them. The lawsuit filed by the SEC is the government's most significant legal action related to the mortgage meltdown that ignited the financial crisis and helped to plunge our country into the Great Recession. Selling bundled sub-prime mortgages as Securities that you know will fail is wrong on so many levels. Goldman Sachs will no longer be thought of as a well run company and as a trusted advisor to investment banking clients. Even in recent years, Goldman shifted toward taking more and more risks with their clients and even their own money.
I believe that in order to stop any more big banks and Wall Street firms from entering into such poorly thought out and extremely volatile deals, the only common sense solution is with banking reform. I haven't read enough about the banking reform details to form an opinion as to what the best reforms should be. But doing nothing is not the answer. Doing nothing can not and will not stop any other firm(s) from trying to do either the same thing or something similar. So obviously common sense dictates that something must be done.
Unfortunately, the 41 US Senate Republicans don't see it that way and have signed a letter stating their opposition to any banking reforms. The big banks must never be allowed to do these kind of deals ever again. I know that the Senate Republicans stated after the Health care reform bill was passed to never work with the Democrats again. So instead of trying to help protect the American public with banking reform, the Republicans have showed that their allegiance is with big businesses/banks and let them run unimpeded without any needed regulations. Let's stop bickering like school children and protect the American public. The constitution protects Americans rights and so should banking reform.
Politicians need more common sense in order to realize what the correct solution should be and not about being re-elected or rhetoric or just saying no. Saying no won't go! We should never ever find ourselves in a similar situation caused by greedy banks.
Til next week.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
NYS Budget Mess
Hi Everyone:
Well NYS is at it again, another late budget. Our state budget was due on 4/1/10. To date the infamous legislators are not even close to agreeing on one yet. Mind you that presently the Democrats control the Congress, Senate and Governorship. When the Republicans were in control they were also late. Even though I have written about this before, the current financial situation is vastly worse. Thanks to the Great Recession, NYS finds itself with a record $9.6 billion deficit for the 2010-2011 budget year. NYS is not the only state with financial difficulties. Unfortunately, there are lots of other states with lessor and greater financial problems. I believe that California has a budget deficit that is about 3 times greater then NYS's.
When this state is in a deficit, again it doesn't matter which political party was or is in control because they both come up with similar ways to try to trim the budget. Let's look at what both parties have done previously and what they are doing or trying to do presently:
Ways to trim the budget Result
-Decrease school funding -Increase in school taxes
-Eliminate Property tax refunds -Increase in property taxes
-Increase state sale taxes -Increase in everything purchased except food
-Start a soda and water tax -Increase in food budgets
-Increase DMV fees -Increase in DMV fees
I could go on and on but the results are always the same. When the state has a budget deficit, the residents end up paying dearly. Taxes and fees can not continue to increase indefinitely as they have for decades. Soon there will be a lot of people taxed out of living in NY and will be forced to move to another state. Then only the very rich would be able to afford living here, if they are willing to pay.
So what can be done? NYS state needs to be really run like a business and not just lip service. Here are my simple common sense ways to trim the budget:
1) Cut waste.
2) Cut waste.
3) Cut waste.
4) Yearly audits of each department to find more waste that needs to be eliminated.
5) If all of the above fail to trim the budget enough, then unfortunately lay offs are needed.
6) Even with all of the above applied and there still is a deficit, let's decrease the legislators highly inflated pay. Let it hurt them as much as their actions hurt everyone in the state financially.
Every Governor since Rockefeller has grown the number of state employees to the point where there isn't enough money (income) to support having them all on the payroll. Businesses would have laid off employees a long time ago and managed the number of employees much better. Neither political party, when in control, wants to do lay offs. That's because they are always thinking about their re-election and not the residents who pay their salaries. Lay offs are an unfortunate consequence in these very troubling economic times.
If the politicians can't get the budget under control and without any new tax increases, which includes massive lay offs this year, I think that each and every politician should be voted out of office and maybe their replacements will have a better understanding of what fiduciary responsibility really means!
Til next week.
Well NYS is at it again, another late budget. Our state budget was due on 4/1/10. To date the infamous legislators are not even close to agreeing on one yet. Mind you that presently the Democrats control the Congress, Senate and Governorship. When the Republicans were in control they were also late. Even though I have written about this before, the current financial situation is vastly worse. Thanks to the Great Recession, NYS finds itself with a record $9.6 billion deficit for the 2010-2011 budget year. NYS is not the only state with financial difficulties. Unfortunately, there are lots of other states with lessor and greater financial problems. I believe that California has a budget deficit that is about 3 times greater then NYS's.
When this state is in a deficit, again it doesn't matter which political party was or is in control because they both come up with similar ways to try to trim the budget. Let's look at what both parties have done previously and what they are doing or trying to do presently:
Ways to trim the budget Result
-Decrease school funding -Increase in school taxes
-Eliminate Property tax refunds -Increase in property taxes
-Increase state sale taxes -Increase in everything purchased except food
-Start a soda and water tax -Increase in food budgets
-Increase DMV fees -Increase in DMV fees
I could go on and on but the results are always the same. When the state has a budget deficit, the residents end up paying dearly. Taxes and fees can not continue to increase indefinitely as they have for decades. Soon there will be a lot of people taxed out of living in NY and will be forced to move to another state. Then only the very rich would be able to afford living here, if they are willing to pay.
So what can be done? NYS state needs to be really run like a business and not just lip service. Here are my simple common sense ways to trim the budget:
1) Cut waste.
2) Cut waste.
3) Cut waste.
4) Yearly audits of each department to find more waste that needs to be eliminated.
5) If all of the above fail to trim the budget enough, then unfortunately lay offs are needed.
6) Even with all of the above applied and there still is a deficit, let's decrease the legislators highly inflated pay. Let it hurt them as much as their actions hurt everyone in the state financially.
Every Governor since Rockefeller has grown the number of state employees to the point where there isn't enough money (income) to support having them all on the payroll. Businesses would have laid off employees a long time ago and managed the number of employees much better. Neither political party, when in control, wants to do lay offs. That's because they are always thinking about their re-election and not the residents who pay their salaries. Lay offs are an unfortunate consequence in these very troubling economic times.
If the politicians can't get the budget under control and without any new tax increases, which includes massive lay offs this year, I think that each and every politician should be voted out of office and maybe their replacements will have a better understanding of what fiduciary responsibility really means!
Til next week.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
What Is Happening To This Country?
Hi Everyone:
I am sure everyone is very aware of the Health Care plan overhaul that was passed by the House this past week. Today's blog is not about whether the Health Care plan is good or bad, but rather the reaction to it.
In the not to distant past, it used to be that if people either agreed or disagreed with a law that Washington passed they took to the streets and either extolled its virtue or protested against it. Both of those things happened last week. But there were some very nasty things that extremists added to their protesting bag of tricks towards the congresspeople who voted for and against the law.
From my own count, 10 Democratic and 2 Republican congresspeople so far have had more than just verbal protests aimed in their direction. It now seems that it is OK to to use intimidation, threats and personal info against elected officials who voted either for or against the law. Congressman John Driehaus' name, home address and home phone number were posted on an anti-health care blog. As you can guess, his home was inundated with calls that were of a threatening and intimidating nature. Now his wife and children live in fear for their lives. Is it OK for his family to now live in fear for their lives? The obvious answer is no, it is not OK and never will be OK. But that didn't stop the fanatical, moronic people from leaving the messages anyway. There was also supposed to be a protest outside of his home this weekend. If you want to protest, the common sense answer would be to protest outside his DC office or his home state office, but leave his home alone!!!!!
Some Democratic congressman had the windows to their offices broken by rocks being thrown into them.
There were threatening phone calls made to Republican congressman who voted against the law. There were also threatening phone calls made to Democratic congressman who voted for the law. Some of the calls actually threatened their lives with physical harm and some even mentioned death.
I believe that the increase in threats and intimidation is being fueled by the political leaders. A prime example is when the hearings were being conducted, a bunch of Republican congressman, stood on the balcony of the Capital building and held the same signs as the protesters while cheering (egging) them on. What violence some of those people may take back home with them remains unknown at the present. But who knows what they may do? Will the violence, threats and intimidation increase all in the name of their beliefs? I hope that does not happen, because that means we are really sinking into a sad state of affairs for this country. In addition, Sarah Palin thought that it was OK to write on her Facebook page, "Don't retreat, instead reload." There were also the cross hairs of a rifle scope aimed at some blue states. I am sure that there are some morons out there that will take that statement as a call to arms, literally and some bad violence will happen because of her words, which she makes no apologies for. Which means that it is OK to talk in gun related terms and pictures when speaking about your opponents. It seems to me that there are more civilized ways of using the English language.
If you start a forest fire, you will be held liable for any and all destruction that the fire (that you started) caused, including any deaths. I think that political leaders should also be held liable in the same way because it seems that they are the ones who are fueling the increases in threats and intimidation with their own words. If they start the fire, hold them liable and accountable. That would stop them in their tracks. There are too many crazy people living in this country that just need a little nudge to push them over the edge for them to do some crazy and unthinkable acts. Then those same political leaders who said the words that started the violence, will denounce the acts. But those same people will not ever, ever admit that maybe, just maybe, their words were the catalyst that started the acts of violence. THE ENDS DO NOT JUSTIFY THE MEANS no matter what spin you put on this!
So what appears to be happening in this country is that if you disagree you are threatened with with physical harm to you and maybe even your family, including death. Is this the type of country we want? I dare say that it is not! Using common sense mandates that there are other ways i.e.: legal ways to oppose something that happens in DC. Violence is never, ever the answer. I dare anyone to try to convince me that threats and intimidation are the avenue to take. It isn't and that person would be wasting their time.
With leadership comes responsibilities and you would think common sense. Politicians have no shame and it seems to be getting worse every year since 2000. How much more worse can it get? On 3/24/10 Republicans shut down all Senate hearings regarding any topic and they now have said that they will not work with any Democrats. Not for nothing, how childish is that? The elected officials are to do work for the American people and not stop the process just because they lost and now hold a grudge. Get over it and move on.
Til next week.
I am sure everyone is very aware of the Health Care plan overhaul that was passed by the House this past week. Today's blog is not about whether the Health Care plan is good or bad, but rather the reaction to it.
In the not to distant past, it used to be that if people either agreed or disagreed with a law that Washington passed they took to the streets and either extolled its virtue or protested against it. Both of those things happened last week. But there were some very nasty things that extremists added to their protesting bag of tricks towards the congresspeople who voted for and against the law.
From my own count, 10 Democratic and 2 Republican congresspeople so far have had more than just verbal protests aimed in their direction. It now seems that it is OK to to use intimidation, threats and personal info against elected officials who voted either for or against the law. Congressman John Driehaus' name, home address and home phone number were posted on an anti-health care blog. As you can guess, his home was inundated with calls that were of a threatening and intimidating nature. Now his wife and children live in fear for their lives. Is it OK for his family to now live in fear for their lives? The obvious answer is no, it is not OK and never will be OK. But that didn't stop the fanatical, moronic people from leaving the messages anyway. There was also supposed to be a protest outside of his home this weekend. If you want to protest, the common sense answer would be to protest outside his DC office or his home state office, but leave his home alone!!!!!
Some Democratic congressman had the windows to their offices broken by rocks being thrown into them.
There were threatening phone calls made to Republican congressman who voted against the law. There were also threatening phone calls made to Democratic congressman who voted for the law. Some of the calls actually threatened their lives with physical harm and some even mentioned death.
I believe that the increase in threats and intimidation is being fueled by the political leaders. A prime example is when the hearings were being conducted, a bunch of Republican congressman, stood on the balcony of the Capital building and held the same signs as the protesters while cheering (egging) them on. What violence some of those people may take back home with them remains unknown at the present. But who knows what they may do? Will the violence, threats and intimidation increase all in the name of their beliefs? I hope that does not happen, because that means we are really sinking into a sad state of affairs for this country. In addition, Sarah Palin thought that it was OK to write on her Facebook page, "Don't retreat, instead reload." There were also the cross hairs of a rifle scope aimed at some blue states. I am sure that there are some morons out there that will take that statement as a call to arms, literally and some bad violence will happen because of her words, which she makes no apologies for. Which means that it is OK to talk in gun related terms and pictures when speaking about your opponents. It seems to me that there are more civilized ways of using the English language.
If you start a forest fire, you will be held liable for any and all destruction that the fire (that you started) caused, including any deaths. I think that political leaders should also be held liable in the same way because it seems that they are the ones who are fueling the increases in threats and intimidation with their own words. If they start the fire, hold them liable and accountable. That would stop them in their tracks. There are too many crazy people living in this country that just need a little nudge to push them over the edge for them to do some crazy and unthinkable acts. Then those same political leaders who said the words that started the violence, will denounce the acts. But those same people will not ever, ever admit that maybe, just maybe, their words were the catalyst that started the acts of violence. THE ENDS DO NOT JUSTIFY THE MEANS no matter what spin you put on this!
So what appears to be happening in this country is that if you disagree you are threatened with with physical harm to you and maybe even your family, including death. Is this the type of country we want? I dare say that it is not! Using common sense mandates that there are other ways i.e.: legal ways to oppose something that happens in DC. Violence is never, ever the answer. I dare anyone to try to convince me that threats and intimidation are the avenue to take. It isn't and that person would be wasting their time.
With leadership comes responsibilities and you would think common sense. Politicians have no shame and it seems to be getting worse every year since 2000. How much more worse can it get? On 3/24/10 Republicans shut down all Senate hearings regarding any topic and they now have said that they will not work with any Democrats. Not for nothing, how childish is that? The elected officials are to do work for the American people and not stop the process just because they lost and now hold a grudge. Get over it and move on.
Til next week.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Out of Control Acceleration or Hyperbole
Hi Everyone:
Well it seems that Toyota's out of control acceleration problem with certain vehicles has gotten worse. Or has it? Last year there were approximately less then 100 reported problems with the acceleration. This year, remember that it is only March, there are thousands of reported problems. How is that possible? I believe that when people started to hear about the problem from the media, they jumped on the bandwagon for whatever reason.
Toyota's first solution to the problem was to stabilize the driver's floor mat. That would then prevent the mat from pressing on the accelerator. I guess that was a possibility. I also believe that they did some kind of work on the actual gas pedal itself. Again I think that is a possibility.
A College Professor, out west, with a PhD in Automotive engineering was able to mimic the out of control acceleration problem by actually opening up the supposed involved computer system and crossing some wires. He said that proved that the acceleration problem was definitely possible. So in order to mimic the problem he had to cross some wires? Of all the reported problems, who in their right mind would have done that? I don't think anyone did that. Sorry Professor but your theory doesn't make any sense.
A Consumer Reports automotive engineer dissected the computers in question in 1 of each of the recalled models and found absolutely nothing wrong with them. Consumer Reports has not been able to copy the problem and has not experienced the problem with any of the "suspected" vehicle models during all of the testing that they do.
Does this out of control acceleration problem sound familiar? If you remember, back in the 1980's, the Audi 5000 also supposedly had a similar problem with out of control acceleration. Tests were done and they never, ever found a problem. But that didn't stop a whole lot of people from jumping on the bandwagon and saying they had a problem. Audi then stopped making the 5000's.
From all the news reports that I have read or seen, it appears that the majority of the drivers who supposedly experienced the problem were drivers 55 years old and older. Could they have mistakenly stepped on the gas pedal instead of the brakes? I suspect that is entirely possible. One of the more TV news worthy reports was about the man who was speeding down the highway at 94 mph and couldn't stop his car. He called 911. The 911 operator asked him if he tried to put the car in neutral. If you listen to the 911 tape, he answers no to that question. What? Your car is supposedly speeding down the highway and all you do is to step on the brakes? When the police caught up to him all of a sudden he was able to reduce his speed to 55 and he then turned the car off and coasted to a stop. A news report that I just heard today now questions the legitimacy of his claim. Nothing was found wrong with his Toyota and the authorities believe that he was just in a hurry and didn't want to get a speeding ticket. That sounds very believable to me.
Last week a 72 year old man was driving his Mercedes-Benz SUV when he mowed down 6 parishioners in a Brooklyn, New York church parking lot, killing a mother of 2 and injuring 5 others. The driver put the vehicle in reverse and then sped up when the accident occurred. Does this mean that there is a problem with MB SUV's. I think not. A few years ago right here where I live, an elderly driver drove his car into the brick wall of our local Rite-Aid store. The car did considerable damage to the wall including knocking it down and the nose of the car ended up inside the store. The driver said that he had his foot on the brakes and the car wouldn't stop. It was determined that he mistakenly stepped on the gas pedal instead of the brakes. Additionally, last week a 56 year old driver of a 2005 Toyota Prius crashed into a stone wall in Harrison, New York. She said that she couldn't stop the car after it accelerated. The 2005 Prius isn't even part of the recall. But she swears it happened. A Toyota engineer is scheduled to check out the car this week including reading the black box. Maybe that would give enough info to help determine what happened. Who knew that cars had black boxes? Not me.
In my opinion, I think a lot of the out of control acceleration incidents is the drivers fault. People do not like to admit that they made a mistake and desperately want and need a scapegoat. They need to blame something or someone else other then their own stupidity or mistake.
If all of the drivers involved in these supposedly out of control acceleration incidents just did these 2 simple, but definitely common sense procedures that take milliseconds. Then there wouldn't be a crash with the possibility of injuries and or death, and one could bring the car to a stop. If you have a car that is accelerating uncontrollably, immediately put the car in neutral and step on the brakes. How damn simple is that? Enough said!
Til next week.
Well it seems that Toyota's out of control acceleration problem with certain vehicles has gotten worse. Or has it? Last year there were approximately less then 100 reported problems with the acceleration. This year, remember that it is only March, there are thousands of reported problems. How is that possible? I believe that when people started to hear about the problem from the media, they jumped on the bandwagon for whatever reason.
Toyota's first solution to the problem was to stabilize the driver's floor mat. That would then prevent the mat from pressing on the accelerator. I guess that was a possibility. I also believe that they did some kind of work on the actual gas pedal itself. Again I think that is a possibility.
A College Professor, out west, with a PhD in Automotive engineering was able to mimic the out of control acceleration problem by actually opening up the supposed involved computer system and crossing some wires. He said that proved that the acceleration problem was definitely possible. So in order to mimic the problem he had to cross some wires? Of all the reported problems, who in their right mind would have done that? I don't think anyone did that. Sorry Professor but your theory doesn't make any sense.
A Consumer Reports automotive engineer dissected the computers in question in 1 of each of the recalled models and found absolutely nothing wrong with them. Consumer Reports has not been able to copy the problem and has not experienced the problem with any of the "suspected" vehicle models during all of the testing that they do.
Does this out of control acceleration problem sound familiar? If you remember, back in the 1980's, the Audi 5000 also supposedly had a similar problem with out of control acceleration. Tests were done and they never, ever found a problem. But that didn't stop a whole lot of people from jumping on the bandwagon and saying they had a problem. Audi then stopped making the 5000's.
From all the news reports that I have read or seen, it appears that the majority of the drivers who supposedly experienced the problem were drivers 55 years old and older. Could they have mistakenly stepped on the gas pedal instead of the brakes? I suspect that is entirely possible. One of the more TV news worthy reports was about the man who was speeding down the highway at 94 mph and couldn't stop his car. He called 911. The 911 operator asked him if he tried to put the car in neutral. If you listen to the 911 tape, he answers no to that question. What? Your car is supposedly speeding down the highway and all you do is to step on the brakes? When the police caught up to him all of a sudden he was able to reduce his speed to 55 and he then turned the car off and coasted to a stop. A news report that I just heard today now questions the legitimacy of his claim. Nothing was found wrong with his Toyota and the authorities believe that he was just in a hurry and didn't want to get a speeding ticket. That sounds very believable to me.
Last week a 72 year old man was driving his Mercedes-Benz SUV when he mowed down 6 parishioners in a Brooklyn, New York church parking lot, killing a mother of 2 and injuring 5 others. The driver put the vehicle in reverse and then sped up when the accident occurred. Does this mean that there is a problem with MB SUV's. I think not. A few years ago right here where I live, an elderly driver drove his car into the brick wall of our local Rite-Aid store. The car did considerable damage to the wall including knocking it down and the nose of the car ended up inside the store. The driver said that he had his foot on the brakes and the car wouldn't stop. It was determined that he mistakenly stepped on the gas pedal instead of the brakes. Additionally, last week a 56 year old driver of a 2005 Toyota Prius crashed into a stone wall in Harrison, New York. She said that she couldn't stop the car after it accelerated. The 2005 Prius isn't even part of the recall. But she swears it happened. A Toyota engineer is scheduled to check out the car this week including reading the black box. Maybe that would give enough info to help determine what happened. Who knew that cars had black boxes? Not me.
In my opinion, I think a lot of the out of control acceleration incidents is the drivers fault. People do not like to admit that they made a mistake and desperately want and need a scapegoat. They need to blame something or someone else other then their own stupidity or mistake.
If all of the drivers involved in these supposedly out of control acceleration incidents just did these 2 simple, but definitely common sense procedures that take milliseconds. Then there wouldn't be a crash with the possibility of injuries and or death, and one could bring the car to a stop. If you have a car that is accelerating uncontrollably, immediately put the car in neutral and step on the brakes. How damn simple is that? Enough said!
Til next week.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Free Range
Hi Everyone:
Before I begin with today's topic, I would like to pass something on to you all. After last weeks blog, I received an email from one of my more avid readers. The reader added 3 more rules to my list of rules for all of the politicians in Washington. So here are the 3 additional rules:
19) All of congress will go back to their States or districts 6 months out of the year, unless there is an emergency session.
20) No elected Senator or Representative will meet with a lobbyist outside of their office and all meetings will be recorded.
21) No elected Senator or Representative will serve more then 2 terms.
Now you might be wondering about what the title of today's topic means. When you hear the term free range, it is almost always about chickens. I have heard so many people talk about how they prefer free range chickens over caged chickens. Right off the bat, let me state that I am not a fan of overcrowding of chickens in a caged environment. So let's look at the difference between free range vs. caged.
What most people do not know or realize is that chickens can and will be carnivores if ever given the opportunity. So if you raise chickens free range, they will eat any small animal, live or dead, that they will inevitably find. What does that mean? You can not control what the chickens eat and that worries me. Dead animals can have any number of diseases. Puddles of stagnant water can also be a problem.
On the other hand, chickens raised in cramped quarters, in a caged environment are often given antibiotics to stem the spread of disease due to the cramped conditions. This also worries me. But you can raise chickens in a caged environment as long as they are not cramped. That means that you don't need to give them antibiotics. But, you can raise them organically if you so chose. I raised my chickens without the use of antibiotics and I used organic feed and never had a problem. I also raised my chickens on a raised platform with chicken wire as the floor, yes it really is called chicken wire. Chicken wire is used so that their droppings drop through the wire and doesn't stay in their living area meaning a cleaner environment. Additionally, fresh clean water is not a problem.
So let's review:
Free range: Caged:
Can't control what they eat or drink. Can control what they eat and drink.
If given the choice which would you choose? To me, the common sense answer is organically fed caged chickens.
So now you have the info to make an informed decision and common sense dictates which is the better choice. Bon appetite.
Til next week.
Before I begin with today's topic, I would like to pass something on to you all. After last weeks blog, I received an email from one of my more avid readers. The reader added 3 more rules to my list of rules for all of the politicians in Washington. So here are the 3 additional rules:
19) All of congress will go back to their States or districts 6 months out of the year, unless there is an emergency session.
20) No elected Senator or Representative will meet with a lobbyist outside of their office and all meetings will be recorded.
21) No elected Senator or Representative will serve more then 2 terms.
Now you might be wondering about what the title of today's topic means. When you hear the term free range, it is almost always about chickens. I have heard so many people talk about how they prefer free range chickens over caged chickens. Right off the bat, let me state that I am not a fan of overcrowding of chickens in a caged environment. So let's look at the difference between free range vs. caged.
What most people do not know or realize is that chickens can and will be carnivores if ever given the opportunity. So if you raise chickens free range, they will eat any small animal, live or dead, that they will inevitably find. What does that mean? You can not control what the chickens eat and that worries me. Dead animals can have any number of diseases. Puddles of stagnant water can also be a problem.
On the other hand, chickens raised in cramped quarters, in a caged environment are often given antibiotics to stem the spread of disease due to the cramped conditions. This also worries me. But you can raise chickens in a caged environment as long as they are not cramped. That means that you don't need to give them antibiotics. But, you can raise them organically if you so chose. I raised my chickens without the use of antibiotics and I used organic feed and never had a problem. I also raised my chickens on a raised platform with chicken wire as the floor, yes it really is called chicken wire. Chicken wire is used so that their droppings drop through the wire and doesn't stay in their living area meaning a cleaner environment. Additionally, fresh clean water is not a problem.
So let's review:
Free range: Caged:
Can't control what they eat or drink. Can control what they eat and drink.
If given the choice which would you choose? To me, the common sense answer is organically fed caged chickens.
So now you have the info to make an informed decision and common sense dictates which is the better choice. Bon appetite.
Til next week.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
What's Wrong With Washington?
Hi Everyone:
I am sure you have all either read about or saw some news broadcast of the seemingly endless bickering that has paralyzed Washington DC. If you are like me, I am so sick and tired of all the partisanship that has become so much more noticeable since the 2000 election. So it must come to all of you as no surprise that the politicians have shown that they have absolutely no common sense what-so-ever. It doesn't matter which party you belong to in this issue because both sides are guilty. Say what you will about the state of affairs of our politicians, but I think we can all agree on the fact that Washington politics has become very polarizing and therefore important changes to benefit the American public get stalled or doesn't happen at all.
In the last 10 years, it seems that politicians spend 98% of their time trying to figure out how to trip up the opposition and 2% on how to help our country. So I have come up with a few new rules that all politicians should follow effective immediately! Now I know that these are fantasy rules but if you think about them, they make sense and quite possibly could help Washington get the job done. Trying to stay apolitical, the new rules apply to both parties because both parties are guilty at one time or another. The new rules are in no specific order. I just typed them as I thought of them and they are as follows:
1) Always tell the truth, no more lies.
2) Spin doctors must be outlawed. If you make a mistake, admit it. Do not use a spin dr. to try to change the facts to benefit your side. The American people are smarter than we are given credit for. See #1.
3) When asked a question by a reporter etc. answer the question directly. No more beating around the bush by saying a lot of "who shot John" and then never really answering the question. See #1.
4) No more use of scare tactics to try to change the publics view. See #1.
5) Just because you do not agree with the sitting administration does not make you un-American. It is our right to disagree by using facts not innuendo or lies etc. See #1.
6) You will no longer be allowed to make a statement like, our party is the cost cutting, lowering taxes party, when in fact if you look at their past policy record proves the opposite. See #1.
7) Politics should not a winner take all game.
8) All bills brought to the house should have a bi-partisan effort. Lately it seems that members of the same party will force their own to withdraw their support of any bill, if they don't tow that party's line.
9) Bills should not be passed solely on a majority party vote alone. In other words, bi-partisanship is not a bad word and should be used as much as possible.
10) Your party can not be an obstructionist party. If you disagree, come up with your version and let the public know. Just saying no without showing your plan benefits no one. Also trying to start over in the publics mind means that nothing will be done.
11) Compromise must be re-instilled in our politicians. These days, it seems that compromise is also another dirty word.
12) Tactical maneuvering for short term gain must be ended.
13) Politicians posturing to benefit themselves and not the American people must end immediately.
14) When one party accuses the other party of some wrong way to achieve some goal, the accusing party must look over their own shoulder to make sure that they didn't do the exact same thing when they were in charge. Hypocrisy is not a pretty picture. See #1.
15) It is ok to disagree, but name calling and misinformation thrown out to the public to change some one's mind must stop. See #1.
16) I think that pork barrel spending wastes a lot of money and should be banned. There must be a better way to get federal money then attaching it to some bill.
17) Talking points should be based solely on fact and truth and absolutely nothing else. See #1
18) Former Presidents and Vice-Presidents should keep their mouths shut, regarding the policies of whom ever is in office, after they have left office. They had their time in office be it good or bad.
Now I am very much aware that we do not live in an utopian society, but some of the above could be used to help end the very polarizing partisanship that has been going on for far to long in Washington. We should not be a country of red and blue states. We should be a country of Americans. Common sense dictates that compromise and bi-partisanship is the only way to go. If you have thought of any "new rules" please share and let me know.
On a side note, almost one year ago, I blogged about the big banks. At the end I made the suggestion that maybe one should think about canceling your big bank accounts and moving your money to a small community bank, that is in good financial condition. Well, well, well, there is now a web site that will help you do just that. The site is moveyourmoney.com. All you have to do is type in your zip code and it will list local banks, (in good standing), in your area. If you still use a big bank, you should think about changing to a local bank that played by the rules and didn't need to be bailed out. Just a thought.
Til next week.
I am sure you have all either read about or saw some news broadcast of the seemingly endless bickering that has paralyzed Washington DC. If you are like me, I am so sick and tired of all the partisanship that has become so much more noticeable since the 2000 election. So it must come to all of you as no surprise that the politicians have shown that they have absolutely no common sense what-so-ever. It doesn't matter which party you belong to in this issue because both sides are guilty. Say what you will about the state of affairs of our politicians, but I think we can all agree on the fact that Washington politics has become very polarizing and therefore important changes to benefit the American public get stalled or doesn't happen at all.
In the last 10 years, it seems that politicians spend 98% of their time trying to figure out how to trip up the opposition and 2% on how to help our country. So I have come up with a few new rules that all politicians should follow effective immediately! Now I know that these are fantasy rules but if you think about them, they make sense and quite possibly could help Washington get the job done. Trying to stay apolitical, the new rules apply to both parties because both parties are guilty at one time or another. The new rules are in no specific order. I just typed them as I thought of them and they are as follows:
1) Always tell the truth, no more lies.
2) Spin doctors must be outlawed. If you make a mistake, admit it. Do not use a spin dr. to try to change the facts to benefit your side. The American people are smarter than we are given credit for. See #1.
3) When asked a question by a reporter etc. answer the question directly. No more beating around the bush by saying a lot of "who shot John" and then never really answering the question. See #1.
4) No more use of scare tactics to try to change the publics view. See #1.
5) Just because you do not agree with the sitting administration does not make you un-American. It is our right to disagree by using facts not innuendo or lies etc. See #1.
6) You will no longer be allowed to make a statement like, our party is the cost cutting, lowering taxes party, when in fact if you look at their past policy record proves the opposite. See #1.
7) Politics should not a winner take all game.
8) All bills brought to the house should have a bi-partisan effort. Lately it seems that members of the same party will force their own to withdraw their support of any bill, if they don't tow that party's line.
9) Bills should not be passed solely on a majority party vote alone. In other words, bi-partisanship is not a bad word and should be used as much as possible.
10) Your party can not be an obstructionist party. If you disagree, come up with your version and let the public know. Just saying no without showing your plan benefits no one. Also trying to start over in the publics mind means that nothing will be done.
11) Compromise must be re-instilled in our politicians. These days, it seems that compromise is also another dirty word.
12) Tactical maneuvering for short term gain must be ended.
13) Politicians posturing to benefit themselves and not the American people must end immediately.
14) When one party accuses the other party of some wrong way to achieve some goal, the accusing party must look over their own shoulder to make sure that they didn't do the exact same thing when they were in charge. Hypocrisy is not a pretty picture. See #1.
15) It is ok to disagree, but name calling and misinformation thrown out to the public to change some one's mind must stop. See #1.
16) I think that pork barrel spending wastes a lot of money and should be banned. There must be a better way to get federal money then attaching it to some bill.
17) Talking points should be based solely on fact and truth and absolutely nothing else. See #1
18) Former Presidents and Vice-Presidents should keep their mouths shut, regarding the policies of whom ever is in office, after they have left office. They had their time in office be it good or bad.
Now I am very much aware that we do not live in an utopian society, but some of the above could be used to help end the very polarizing partisanship that has been going on for far to long in Washington. We should not be a country of red and blue states. We should be a country of Americans. Common sense dictates that compromise and bi-partisanship is the only way to go. If you have thought of any "new rules" please share and let me know.
On a side note, almost one year ago, I blogged about the big banks. At the end I made the suggestion that maybe one should think about canceling your big bank accounts and moving your money to a small community bank, that is in good financial condition. Well, well, well, there is now a web site that will help you do just that. The site is moveyourmoney.com. All you have to do is type in your zip code and it will list local banks, (in good standing), in your area. If you still use a big bank, you should think about changing to a local bank that played by the rules and didn't need to be bailed out. Just a thought.
Til next week.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
The Grocery Shopping Black Hole
Hi Everyone:
So last week as I was checking out from the grocery store the person before me was totally shocked when she saw the bill. The customer got a bit irate at the cashier because of the $120 bill. She complained that the prices were too high, meaning her high bill was the store's fault and not hers. Obviously, it wasn't the cashiers fault. But I see this a lot, even when times are not hard.
It seems that there are still a lot of people who shop like unknowledgeable shoppers. To some people, grocery shopping represents never knowing how much their final bill will come to and then are not only shocked at the final bill but they also blew their weekly grocery budget. Hence the black hole affect of sucking those hard earned dollars right out of your pocket. I have actually helped a bunch of friends trim their weekly food budget using my tried and proven methods. Here is my common sense approach to food shopping, even if you shop at multiple stores:
1) Sign up for the store's discount card. Without it, you will not get the best price each week on a lot of items. This is a great way to save money each and every time you shop.
2) Always read and use the weekly flyer(s) that comes in the mail or you might be able to get the same info online from their web site.
3) Using a pen, circle the items in the flyer that you want or need.
4) Write a list with each and every item that you want to buy. Omit nothing on the list. Make sure to also write down the costs of each item. When the list is complete add all the item costs together to get your total. If the amount is over your budget, trim the list until the cost fits your budget.
5) I make my list based on the aisle layout in the store. So I begin with the aisle next to the entrance and work my way around the store. You can get an aisle layout from the customer service desk so as to help you make your list.
6) When making your list, if you're not sure about what to have for a weekend dinner or whatever, just write down a dollar amount for the dinner or whatever and then make the meal fit your budget.
7) If you are not a brand loyal customer, check out the prices of the store brands. They are always less expensive. Even if you use the same item each and every time, try the competition if it is on sale. Who knows, you may find out that you like more than one brand. Then you have doubled your odds for a sale on what you like.
8) When you cross off something on the list, keep a running tab of the costs of each and every item. Rounding up is the easiest way to adding up the items i.e.: $.99 becomes $1.00 and $1.63 becomes $1.65. This is the second most important thing to do only being topped by writing a list.
9) When an advertised sale item is not available, check with customer service to see if they will make a substitution. If not, get a raincheck that is usually good for 30 to 60 days.
10) While in the store, always keep an eye out for unadvertised specials. You might be able to switch an item from your list for an unadvertised special. You have immediately saved money from your list.
11) Another way to save might be found at your local neighborhood gas station. A lot of gas stations sell staples such as milk, butter and eggs etc. at a lower cost then your grocery store. Since you get your gas there, why not buy the items, if they are less expensive.
12) You may also be able to save money when buying from Walmart, Target, Kmart or even your local dollar store etc. only if you are sure that the prices are less expensive that week.
13) When items that you use often are on sale, try to buy as many as your budget will allow.
14) Be careful when buying in bulk. Sometimes it is more cost effective, but other times it is not especially when the smaller size is on sale and the cost per item is less then even buying in bulk. Yes you might have to do some math to figure it out, but it is worth it when considering the bottom line, your weekly budget and saving money.
15) I have found in my area that almost everything that we use eventually goes on sale every 6 to 8 weeks. Therefore, I always try to stock up to hold us over until the next sale.
16) When you get to the check out, you will already know the approximate amount of your bill. I say that because (at least here in New York), non food items are subject to tax, especially beer!
17) When you get your final bill, if it is off by dollars, you will immediately know a mistake was made. Hopefully the mistake was the store's fault and not your ability to add correctly. More than likely, the computer didn't charge you the sale price but rather the regular price. At one of the stores that we use, if the item scans incorrectly, you get that item free up to a $10.00 value. I find that it happens more often than you would think. But if you didn't keep a running tab, you would never know that you didn't pay the sale price and you were overcharged.
I realize that doing all of the above, especially keeping a running tab, seems like a lot of work, but trust me you will save money and keep yourself on a budget without falling into the black hole. If any of you try my suggestions and you save money let me know.
Good luck and have fun saving some money. Saving money does make common sense.
Til next week.
So last week as I was checking out from the grocery store the person before me was totally shocked when she saw the bill. The customer got a bit irate at the cashier because of the $120 bill. She complained that the prices were too high, meaning her high bill was the store's fault and not hers. Obviously, it wasn't the cashiers fault. But I see this a lot, even when times are not hard.
It seems that there are still a lot of people who shop like unknowledgeable shoppers. To some people, grocery shopping represents never knowing how much their final bill will come to and then are not only shocked at the final bill but they also blew their weekly grocery budget. Hence the black hole affect of sucking those hard earned dollars right out of your pocket. I have actually helped a bunch of friends trim their weekly food budget using my tried and proven methods. Here is my common sense approach to food shopping, even if you shop at multiple stores:
1) Sign up for the store's discount card. Without it, you will not get the best price each week on a lot of items. This is a great way to save money each and every time you shop.
2) Always read and use the weekly flyer(s) that comes in the mail or you might be able to get the same info online from their web site.
3) Using a pen, circle the items in the flyer that you want or need.
4) Write a list with each and every item that you want to buy. Omit nothing on the list. Make sure to also write down the costs of each item. When the list is complete add all the item costs together to get your total. If the amount is over your budget, trim the list until the cost fits your budget.
5) I make my list based on the aisle layout in the store. So I begin with the aisle next to the entrance and work my way around the store. You can get an aisle layout from the customer service desk so as to help you make your list.
6) When making your list, if you're not sure about what to have for a weekend dinner or whatever, just write down a dollar amount for the dinner or whatever and then make the meal fit your budget.
7) If you are not a brand loyal customer, check out the prices of the store brands. They are always less expensive. Even if you use the same item each and every time, try the competition if it is on sale. Who knows, you may find out that you like more than one brand. Then you have doubled your odds for a sale on what you like.
8) When you cross off something on the list, keep a running tab of the costs of each and every item. Rounding up is the easiest way to adding up the items i.e.: $.99 becomes $1.00 and $1.63 becomes $1.65. This is the second most important thing to do only being topped by writing a list.
9) When an advertised sale item is not available, check with customer service to see if they will make a substitution. If not, get a raincheck that is usually good for 30 to 60 days.
10) While in the store, always keep an eye out for unadvertised specials. You might be able to switch an item from your list for an unadvertised special. You have immediately saved money from your list.
11) Another way to save might be found at your local neighborhood gas station. A lot of gas stations sell staples such as milk, butter and eggs etc. at a lower cost then your grocery store. Since you get your gas there, why not buy the items, if they are less expensive.
12) You may also be able to save money when buying from Walmart, Target, Kmart or even your local dollar store etc. only if you are sure that the prices are less expensive that week.
13) When items that you use often are on sale, try to buy as many as your budget will allow.
14) Be careful when buying in bulk. Sometimes it is more cost effective, but other times it is not especially when the smaller size is on sale and the cost per item is less then even buying in bulk. Yes you might have to do some math to figure it out, but it is worth it when considering the bottom line, your weekly budget and saving money.
15) I have found in my area that almost everything that we use eventually goes on sale every 6 to 8 weeks. Therefore, I always try to stock up to hold us over until the next sale.
16) When you get to the check out, you will already know the approximate amount of your bill. I say that because (at least here in New York), non food items are subject to tax, especially beer!
17) When you get your final bill, if it is off by dollars, you will immediately know a mistake was made. Hopefully the mistake was the store's fault and not your ability to add correctly. More than likely, the computer didn't charge you the sale price but rather the regular price. At one of the stores that we use, if the item scans incorrectly, you get that item free up to a $10.00 value. I find that it happens more often than you would think. But if you didn't keep a running tab, you would never know that you didn't pay the sale price and you were overcharged.
I realize that doing all of the above, especially keeping a running tab, seems like a lot of work, but trust me you will save money and keep yourself on a budget without falling into the black hole. If any of you try my suggestions and you save money let me know.
Good luck and have fun saving some money. Saving money does make common sense.
Til next week.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Why Are We In This Mess?
Hi Everyone:
Today's topic is about how and why we as a country find ourselves in this Great Recession. I have touched on some of these points previously, but today I will connect the dots to answer those two questions. In this very political atmosphere that we live in, it never ceases to amaze me when untruths are spread around as truth. So let's look at the facts and nothing but the facts:
1)-2001 Bush tax cuts.
2)- 9/11/01 Islamic extremists attack our country.
3)- 10/7/01 The war in Afghanistan began with allied air strikes.
4)- 3/20/03 The war in Iraq began with air strikes.
5)- 2005 thru 2006 This was when the majority of sub-prime mortgages were sold. They were
also sold into 2008.
6)- 2006 thru 2008 Oil speculators became very greedy and caused the extraordinary
price spikes of gasoline to pass the $4.20 per gallon mark.
7)- 12/07 The month that the Great Recession actually began.
8)- 7/30/08 President Bush signs TARP (Troubled Assets Relief Program) which loaned out
approximately $750 billion to troubled banks, investment firms and AIG.
9)- 1/20/09 President Obama is sworn in.
Now those are the undeniable facts. Now let's see how all of those combined ended with the Great Recession taking a grip on not only this country, but helped to plunge the entire global community into the Great Recession.
1) Although the tax cuts reduced rates for all people at every income level, there is now proof that it has really, really helped the richest 1%, with tax reductions averaging $85,000. These huge tax cuts to the richest prevented the collection of tax money that could have been used to reduce the burden on the middle class.
3) In my opinion, this is a just war against the Taliban and al-Queda who attacked us first. But the ongoing war has cost us billions and billions with no end in sight.
4) In my opinion, this is an unjust war based on lies and misinformation. We should have never attacked Iraq. This almost 7 year war is now costing us $12 billion per month. This war has taken a trillion dollars away from every state, county and city in America. Again, there is no easy way out of this war and consequently it will continue to cost us billions of dollars each month.
5) The financial scam that banks, investment firms and insurance companies were allowed to perpetrate involving toxic loans, derivative bond bundles (which usually contained about 10% of sub-prime mortgages), and insuring these worthless pieces of paper all but destroyed our nation's free-enterprise system.
6) At the same time that the sub-prime fiasco started to rear its ugly head, speculators took the price of a barrel of oil to new heights, namely $147/barrel; which translated into a whopping $4.20 for a gallon a gasoline. A gallon of home heating oil was even more expensive.
7) At the time, 12/07, no one knew that this was when the Great Recession actually began but it has been determined to be the start date and obviously continues to this date.
8) The surprise of how fast President Bush decided to bail out the banks, investment firms and AIG to the tune of $750 billion was astounding. Of course that first round of TARP money bailout was given out without any strings attached. Who does that? So it was business as usual for the banks et. al. to hand out billions in bonuses before they even repaid the TARP money, which they so desperately needed. The banks et. al. caused their own demise. The TARP money was supposed to be partly used for new loans and instead they horded it and used it to help their own bottom lines, hence the large bonuses.
9) When President Obama was sworn in on 1/20/09, he inherited from President Bush a one trillion dollar deficit and the fast growing Great Recession was quickly approaching what some analysts predicted to become a depression. During the beginning of the Great Depression of 1929 then President Herbert Hoover decided not to do anything but sit back and watch and to leave everything alone; as they believed that the market and banks would correct themselves. That's why President Roosevelt was elected to help the country get back on course. By the time FDR took office in March 1933, the Great Depression was already 4 years old and immediate action was most needed and was taken.
So yesterday, Sarah Palin gave a speech in Nashville, Tenn. to a Tea Party gathering. From what I heard and read, Ms. Palin was big on enthusiasm but short on any ideas. She blamed President Obama for all of our problems. It seems that some people are convincing themselves that almost everything that President Obama has done to help the country is wrong. Unfortunately, in this day and age everyone wants immediate satisfaction no matter what. I am not sure if the second $750 billion stimulus President Obama issued was too much or too little. Why? Because it is too early to tell. It will take time to fix our economy. It took FDR 7-8 years to get our country back on track. What makes people so damn impatient today is besides me. Let's give it time. It will take years not days or months till unemployment and economy is up to snuff.
So it seems that some people in this country have very short memories. So let's review the undeniable facts: numbers 1 through 8 all happened on President Bush's watch and no one else's period. If we never attacked Iraq and the Bush tax cuts were never implemented, without a doubt, and no one can argue this point, this country would be so much better off financially. The draining of our tax dollars for Iraq is unprecedented and can not continue indefinitely or it will bankrupt our country.
So there are the facts. I can only hope that people, including politicians, especially Republicans, remember what the actual facts are and to use them correctly. Unfortunately, in our present political climate that may just be wishful thinking.
Go Colts!
Til next week.
Today's topic is about how and why we as a country find ourselves in this Great Recession. I have touched on some of these points previously, but today I will connect the dots to answer those two questions. In this very political atmosphere that we live in, it never ceases to amaze me when untruths are spread around as truth. So let's look at the facts and nothing but the facts:
1)-2001 Bush tax cuts.
2)- 9/11/01 Islamic extremists attack our country.
3)- 10/7/01 The war in Afghanistan began with allied air strikes.
4)- 3/20/03 The war in Iraq began with air strikes.
5)- 2005 thru 2006 This was when the majority of sub-prime mortgages were sold. They were
also sold into 2008.
6)- 2006 thru 2008 Oil speculators became very greedy and caused the extraordinary
price spikes of gasoline to pass the $4.20 per gallon mark.
7)- 12/07 The month that the Great Recession actually began.
8)- 7/30/08 President Bush signs TARP (Troubled Assets Relief Program) which loaned out
approximately $750 billion to troubled banks, investment firms and AIG.
9)- 1/20/09 President Obama is sworn in.
Now those are the undeniable facts. Now let's see how all of those combined ended with the Great Recession taking a grip on not only this country, but helped to plunge the entire global community into the Great Recession.
1) Although the tax cuts reduced rates for all people at every income level, there is now proof that it has really, really helped the richest 1%, with tax reductions averaging $85,000. These huge tax cuts to the richest prevented the collection of tax money that could have been used to reduce the burden on the middle class.
3) In my opinion, this is a just war against the Taliban and al-Queda who attacked us first. But the ongoing war has cost us billions and billions with no end in sight.
4) In my opinion, this is an unjust war based on lies and misinformation. We should have never attacked Iraq. This almost 7 year war is now costing us $12 billion per month. This war has taken a trillion dollars away from every state, county and city in America. Again, there is no easy way out of this war and consequently it will continue to cost us billions of dollars each month.
5) The financial scam that banks, investment firms and insurance companies were allowed to perpetrate involving toxic loans, derivative bond bundles (which usually contained about 10% of sub-prime mortgages), and insuring these worthless pieces of paper all but destroyed our nation's free-enterprise system.
6) At the same time that the sub-prime fiasco started to rear its ugly head, speculators took the price of a barrel of oil to new heights, namely $147/barrel; which translated into a whopping $4.20 for a gallon a gasoline. A gallon of home heating oil was even more expensive.
7) At the time, 12/07, no one knew that this was when the Great Recession actually began but it has been determined to be the start date and obviously continues to this date.
8) The surprise of how fast President Bush decided to bail out the banks, investment firms and AIG to the tune of $750 billion was astounding. Of course that first round of TARP money bailout was given out without any strings attached. Who does that? So it was business as usual for the banks et. al. to hand out billions in bonuses before they even repaid the TARP money, which they so desperately needed. The banks et. al. caused their own demise. The TARP money was supposed to be partly used for new loans and instead they horded it and used it to help their own bottom lines, hence the large bonuses.
9) When President Obama was sworn in on 1/20/09, he inherited from President Bush a one trillion dollar deficit and the fast growing Great Recession was quickly approaching what some analysts predicted to become a depression. During the beginning of the Great Depression of 1929 then President Herbert Hoover decided not to do anything but sit back and watch and to leave everything alone; as they believed that the market and banks would correct themselves. That's why President Roosevelt was elected to help the country get back on course. By the time FDR took office in March 1933, the Great Depression was already 4 years old and immediate action was most needed and was taken.
So yesterday, Sarah Palin gave a speech in Nashville, Tenn. to a Tea Party gathering. From what I heard and read, Ms. Palin was big on enthusiasm but short on any ideas. She blamed President Obama for all of our problems. It seems that some people are convincing themselves that almost everything that President Obama has done to help the country is wrong. Unfortunately, in this day and age everyone wants immediate satisfaction no matter what. I am not sure if the second $750 billion stimulus President Obama issued was too much or too little. Why? Because it is too early to tell. It will take time to fix our economy. It took FDR 7-8 years to get our country back on track. What makes people so damn impatient today is besides me. Let's give it time. It will take years not days or months till unemployment and economy is up to snuff.
So it seems that some people in this country have very short memories. So let's review the undeniable facts: numbers 1 through 8 all happened on President Bush's watch and no one else's period. If we never attacked Iraq and the Bush tax cuts were never implemented, without a doubt, and no one can argue this point, this country would be so much better off financially. The draining of our tax dollars for Iraq is unprecedented and can not continue indefinitely or it will bankrupt our country.
So there are the facts. I can only hope that people, including politicians, especially Republicans, remember what the actual facts are and to use them correctly. Unfortunately, in our present political climate that may just be wishful thinking.
Go Colts!
Til next week.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)